A rare cause of acute urinary retention in a male infant

N I Wickramasuriya1, M Muthucumaru, P B Hewavithana

  • 1ICU/Anaesthesia, General Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya, KY 20400, Sri Lanka. nadee_wick@yahoo.com

Insights

Acute urinary retention in children is rare, often caused by congenital bladder diverticula. This case highlights bilateral diverticula as a cause in an infant, emphasizing the need for prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Urology
  • Congenital Abnormalities
  • Urinary Tract Disorders

Background:

  • Acute urinary retention (AUR) is uncommon in childhood.
  • Congenital bladder diverticula are a rare cause of AUR, predominantly affecting males.
  • Typically, congenital diverticula are solitary.

Observation:

  • A 3-month-old male infant presented with recurrent episodes of acute urinary retention.
  • The retention was attributed to bilateral congenital bladder diverticula.
  • Voiding cystourethrography confirmed the diagnosis.

Findings:

  • Bilateral congenital bladder diverticula can cause acute urinary retention in infants.
  • This presentation is extremely rare, differing from the usual solitary nature of congenital diverticula.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of considering rare causes of AUR in infants.
  • Underscores the diagnostic value of voiding cystourethrography.
  • Emphasizes the need for timely clinical and radiological evaluation followed by surgical correction for congenital bladder diverticula causing AUR.

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