Bladder Diverticulum—A Case Report

A bladder diverticulum can be the consequence of a congenital abnormality or acquired as a result of trauma, infection, or outlet obstruction. Many are asymptomatic, but some may present with complications such as urinary tract infection, hematuria, or urinary retention. A 76-year-old male presented to the emergency department (ED) for the second visit in one week with a chief complaint of urinary retention and lower abdominal pain. He had not voided since the prior night, when he had presented to the ED for the same compliant. During his initial visit, his symptoms were relieved by insertion of an in-&-out foley catheter. Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) of the bladder showed the appearance of two enlarged vertically aligned “bladders” with a central connection, concerning for a bladder diverticulum. Patient’s cause of bladder diverticulum was found to be secondary to outlet obstruction, specifically benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). An indwelling foley catheter was inserted, and the patient was discharged home with instructions for urology follow up. The purpose of this report is to describe an anatomical anomaly of a bladder diverticulum presenting incidentally on Point of Care Ultrasound during routine workup of urinary retention. TOPICS: Urinary bladder diverticulum, urinary retention, benign prostatic hypertrophy, POCUS, case report.