Congenital bladder diverticula in children.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The authors report their experience with the management of congenital bladder diverticula in children.

METHODS: The authors reviewed the histories of six boys (mean age, 4.4 years) in whom congenital bladder diverticula was treated from 1980 to 1996. Diverticula were unilateral in four patients and bilateral in two patients. All patients presented recurrent urinary tract infection, and two boys had several episodes of urinary retention. Secondary kidney damage was present in two patients with ureteral obstruction and one with vesicoureteral reflux. Surgical treatment was undertaken in all patients.

RESULTS: After surgical treatment, none of the patients has had recurrence of the diverticula, and all remain asymptomatic.

CONCLUSIONS: Congenital bladder diverticula have a wide clinical spectrum and could lead to severe kidney damage. Urinary tract infection and urinary retention are the most frequent presentation forms. Surgical treatment should be indicated in all symptomatic cases according to each anatomic and functional situation.