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What is Bladder Diverticulitis?

Jennifer Long
Jennifer Long

Bladder diverticulitis, also called bladder diverticulum, is a condition that results in the formation of pouches in the bladder wall. Many people can have these pouches present and never know unless problems start to occur. Bladder diverticulum can be congenital or acquired.

Standard diverticulosis and bladder diverticulitis are similar, in that they both involve pouches. As one of the classifications of intestinal disorders, diverticulosis is limited to the intestines and does not include the bladder. The two conditions can be confused but are usually unrelated.

Bladder diverticulitis may be present at birth.
Bladder diverticulitis may be present at birth.

Congenital bladder diverticulitis is a condition that is present from birth and generally only results in one pouch being found. It means that the bladder wall is weak, and this weakness has allowed protrusions to occur. The protrusions are often discovered during childhood and do not need treatment if problems do not occur.

Acquired bladder diverticulitis most often occurs as a result of some type of obstruction, such as urethra scarring or an enlarged prostate. It can also be the result of bladder dysfunction and bladder surgery. Multiple pouches are typically found in the bladder wall of a patient with this condition.

Bladder diverticulitis may occur as a result of an enlarged prostate.
Bladder diverticulitis may occur as a result of an enlarged prostate.

In many instances, bladder diverticulitis does not create symptoms to announce its presence. Other coinciding issues often lead to a delayed diagnosis. Blood in the urine, difficulty urinating, and infections are problems that can occur and lead to the discovery of the pouches.

There are several tests that can be done to determine the presence of bladder diverticulitis. An ultrasound may initially be performed as part of the early diagnosis plan, which can show basic abnormalities in the bladder. A cystogram is an x-ray test that involves filling up the bladder with a contrast dye. Cytoscopy tests use a scope inserted through the urethra and into the bladder. Urodynamics involve using pressure to check for obstructions before performing other tests.

Bladder diverticulitis may occur as a result of bladder surgery.
Bladder diverticulitis may occur as a result of bladder surgery.

Bladder diverticulitis does not generally require treatment unless there are other problems occurring as a result of the pouches. Treatments will help resolve problems, such as bladder stones, reflux, or tumors, and help control the condition through symptom management.

While treating immediate problems is necessary, long term treatment may also be necessary. Many patients who suffer from symptoms that are ongoing will be treated with management medications that are used to help reduce the symptoms that are experienced. For example, if recurring infections occur, antibiotic therapy is often recommended. In some cases, surgery to remove the pouches can help prevent recurring issues.

Discussion Comments

SteamLouis

@feruze-- I would be interested in knowing that as well.

I would also like to know if a hysterectomy could cause diverticulitis in the bladder?

I had a hysterectomy last spring and during the surgery a diverticula on my bladder was ruptured, or at least that's what the surgeon has told me. I have had intense pain since then and have been diagnosed with several other diverticula on my bladder.

I've heard of damage being done to the bladder during hysterectomies. It's apparently not common but it does happen. I don't doubt that the surgery ruptured the diverticula. What I'm wondering is if the diverticula could be caused during the surgery and then also ruptured?

It seems unlikely, but before this incident, I didn't have any symptoms of diverticulitis at all, absolutely no bladder pain. Now I have a little pain all the time.

bear78

My grandmother had bladder removal surgery sometime back because of bladder cancer. The doctor had said at that time that the diverticulum of the bladder were tumorous and couldn't be removed at that stage. So they had to remove the entire bladder.

I've always wondered since her diagnosis and surgery if we could have avoided this if the diverticulum had been diagnosed and removed before cancer developed.

Is there any information out there about bladder diverticulum and cancer? Could it be possible for the diverticulum to be more prone to cancer? Or is it just equally affected since it is a part of the bladder?

turquoise

I had surgery three months ago to remove several diverticulum in my bladder. I went to the doctor after experiencing burning and pain while urinating, and seeing blood in my urine. A week later, I was diagnosed with diverticulum in my bladder. We're not sure what caused it. They were probably there since a long time but might have gotten aggravated because of my enlarged prostate.

The surgery was not bad. I did continue to have pain while urinating for a month afterward but it slowly went away. I don't have the burning or pain anymore. I'm glad I went through with it. I had my prostate treatment and bladder treatment around the same time and my prostate is doing well too. Hopefully I won't have any more diverticulum pop up in the future.

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    • Bladder diverticulitis may be present at birth.
      By: ia_64
      Bladder diverticulitis may be present at birth.
    • Bladder diverticulitis may occur as a result of an enlarged prostate.
      By: joshya
      Bladder diverticulitis may occur as a result of an enlarged prostate.
    • Bladder diverticulitis may occur as a result of bladder surgery.
      By: dacasdo
      Bladder diverticulitis may occur as a result of bladder surgery.
    • An ultrasound may be conducted to diagnose bladder diverticulitis.
      By: Melinda Nagy
      An ultrasound may be conducted to diagnose bladder diverticulitis.
    • Medication may help relieve symptoms of bladder diverticulitis.
      By: rainbow33
      Medication may help relieve symptoms of bladder diverticulitis.
    • A cutaway of a female body showing the bladder in dark pink.
      By: kocakayaali
      A cutaway of a female body showing the bladder in dark pink.
    • The human urinary tract, including the bladder in pink at the bottom.
      By: 3drenderings
      The human urinary tract, including the bladder in pink at the bottom.
    • Bladder stones, which may occur as a result of bladder diverticulitis, may increase an individual's risk of developing bladder cancer.
      By: joshya
      Bladder stones, which may occur as a result of bladder diverticulitis, may increase an individual's risk of developing bladder cancer.