What is diverticula in the bladder
William Smith
Updated on April 08, 2026
A bladder diverticulum is a pouch in the bladder wall that a person may either be born with (“congenital”) or get later (“acquired”). A congenital bladder diverticulum forms when some of the bladder lining pokes through a weak part in the bladder wall.
What are the symptoms of bladder diverticulum?
- Recurrent urinary tract infections due to urine stagnating in the pouch.
- Lower abdominal fullness, pain and discomfort.
- Stones in the bladder due to urine stagnation in the bladder.
- Difficulty passing urine.
- Blood in urine.
How common is bladder diverticulum in females?
Diverticulum of the female urinary bladder is of infrequent occurrence. Analysis of cited hospital statistics shows it to occur in from 1:1552 to 1:564. The incidence in males is more by 18.6 times. General incidence of females among all diverticulum cases is 3.4 per cent.
Is bladder diverticulum cancerous?
Neoplasms arising in urinary bladder diverticula are uncommon, but not rare. 0.8% and 10% of patients with vesical diverticula show neoplasm development within the diverticula.Can a bladder diverticulum cause infection?
Although small diverticuli are usually asymptomatic, a large diverticulum may result in hematuria, urinary tract infection, acute abdomen due to its rupture, acute urinary retention, or neoplasm formation.
Are diverticula normal?
Diverticula are small, bulging pouches that can form in the lining of your digestive system. They are found most often in the lower part of the large intestine (colon). Diverticula are common, especially after age 40, and seldom cause problems.
How do you fix bladder diverticulum?
Diverticula caused by a block in the bladder are treated by taking out the block and maybe the diverticulum, as well. The surgery can be done by open surgery or through small tubes fed inside the bladder. A robot may be used to help with the surgery. Sometimes surgery on the outside of the bladder will also be needed.
How do you fix diverticulosis?
Diverticulitis is treated using diet modifications, antibiotics, and possibly surgery. Mild diverticulitis infection may be treated with bed rest, stool softeners, a liquid diet, antibiotics to fight the infection, and possibly antispasmodic drugs.Can a bladder diverticulum burst?
Rupture of a bladder diverticulum is a rare occurrence, and its diagnosis is difficult. An earlier diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. MDCT cystography should be used as the first-line modality when evaluating for a suspected bladder rupture, even in patients with nontraumatic bladder rupture.
Can diverticulitis affect urination?The symptoms of diverticulitis depend upon the degree of inflammation present. The most common symptom is pain in the left lower abdomen. Other symptoms can include nausea and vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and urinary symptoms such as pain or burning when urinating or the frequent need to urinate.
Article first time published onWill diverticulitis go away on its own?
In about 95 out of 100 people, uncomplicated diverticulitis goes away on its own within a week. In about 5 out of 100 people, the symptoms stay and treatment is needed. Surgery is only rarely necessary.
How long does a urethral diverticulum surgery take?
To review the basics of what we discussed in the office: The actual procedure usually takes one to two hours.
Does diverticulitis cause pain in vagina?
In diverticulitis, a fistula typically connects the colon with either the bladder, the small intestine, or the vagina. Symptoms can include air or stool in the urine, pain while urinating, or abnormal vaginal discharge.
What drinks to avoid with diverticulitis?
Not necessarily, though you definitely want to avoid alcohol and caffeine if you’re experiencing a diverticulitis attack. “Coffee is a bowel stimulant, so if you’re having an attack you might want to stay away and rest your bowel,” says Dr. Boling, “but in the long run, people who have recovered can drink it.”
Is diverticulitis serious?
Diverticulitis can be a serious, and even a potentially life-threatening complication. Health problems that can arise from diverticulitis include: Rectal bleeding. Abscesses and fistulas.
Can bladder diverticulum cause bloody urine?
Common symptoms related to urinary bladder diverticula include hematuria, urinary tract infections, urinary retention, malignancy, and rarely pain from rupture [8].
How long is bladder diverticulum surgery?
Results: The average operating time was 160 minutes (range 120-230 minutes), and the average blood loss was 150 mL (range 80-200 mL).
How common is bladder diverticulum?
The prevalence of bladder diverticula in association with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is approximately 6%. Although many bladder diverticula are asymptomatic, they can be incidentally discovered on evaluation for hematuria, bladder outlet obstruction, or urinary tract infection.
Can you eat bananas with diverticulosis?
If you have bloating or gas, cut down the amount of fiber you eat for a few days. High fiber foods include: Fruits, such as tangerines, prunes, apples, bananas, peaches, and pears.
Why diverticula may cause sudden pain?
Sometimes, though, the little pockets in your colon can become inflamed or infected. When these pockets become infected, it can cause a flare-up or attack known as diverticulitis. Until it’s treated or the inflammation eases, diverticulitis can cause sharp pain, along with other symptoms.
What foods should you avoid if you have diverticulosis?
Who has diverticulosis? Diverticulosis is a condition that causes pouches to form in the large intestine that may become inflamed and infected. You should avoid greasy foods, dairy, sugary foods, and foods with artificial sweeteners if you have diverticulosis.
What is the life expectancy with diverticulitis?
Also, the mean age of patients with the first episode of diverticulitis is approximately 65 years, and such patients have an average life expectancy of 14 years.
What is diverticula function?
Diverticulosis is when pockets called diverticula form in the walls of your digestive tract. The inner layer of your intestine pushes through weak spots in the outer lining. This pressure makes them bulge out, making little pouches. Most often it happens in your colon, the lower part of your large intestine.
Can diverticulitis affect your heart?
An attack of diverticulitis that causes the colon to perforate, resulting in pus or stool leaking into the abdominal cavity and causing peritonitis. Patients with colonic perforation are usually quite ill, and present with severe abdominal pain and changes in heart rate and blood pressure.
What does poop look like with diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis stool characteristics Color: The stool may be bright red, maroon, or black and tarry, which indicates the presence of blood. Stools may contain more mucus than normal. Odor: The stool odor may be increasingly foul compared to the typical smell.
What foods trigger diverticulitis?
- Red meats.
- Processed meats.
- Fried foods.
- Full fat dairy products.
What are the two main causes of diverticulosis?
- Straining to have a bowel movement from constipation.
- Genetics.
- Obesity.
- Lack of exercise.
- Smoking.
- Use of certain medications including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, and steroids.
Does drinking water help diverticulitis?
Yes, drinking water may help resolve diverticulitis. However, the overall management of diverticulitis depends on the extent of the disease. Only hydration may not help in all cases. It is advised to maintain a liquid diet, such as clear liquids or broths, during the first few days of the diverticulitis attack.
Can you live with urethral diverticulum?
Outlook for UD Once your urethral diverticulum is properly diagnosed and treated surgically by an experienced urologist, your outlook is excellent. There are few complications after surgical treatment. Rarely, you may have a recurrence of your UD if it wasn’t completely removed during surgery.
How do you get rid of urethral diverticulum?
Surgical excision is the treatment of choice. It should be performed with care with an experienced urologist. The UD sac may be attached to the urethral opening. If the sac is not removed carefully, it could damage the urethra.
Can you drain a urethral diverticulum?
However, they can also choose to cut into the sac neck to drain the contents or to create an opening from the sac into the vagina that allows the contents to drain out that way. During the UD surgery, the doctor may also be able to fix certain urinary incontinence problems.