HoLEP as a treatment option for patients with concurrent outlet obstruction and bladder diverticulum

Objectives:This study is the first to urodynamically and histopathologically evaluates the effects of bladder diverticulum (BD) secondary to bladder outlet obstruction (BOO).Methods:Guinea pigs (n=32) weighing 900–1,000 g were divided randomly into four groups: Sham, BD, BOO, and BD combined with BOO. All guinea pigs in the four groups underwent urodynamic evaluation preoperatively and at 1 month postoperatively. The bladders were removed and examined histopathologically.Results:The post-operative filling detrusor pressure was lower in the Sham group (7.1±1.6 cm H2O) than in the BD (21.4±5.6 cm H2O) and BD with BOO groups (23.6±9.3 cm H2O) (p<0.05). There was no difference between the Sham and BOO (9.5±4.0) groups. Post-operative bladder compliance was better in the Sham group (2.3±0.8 ml/cm H2O) than in the BD (0.9±0.22 ml/cm H2O) and BD with BOO groups (0.6±0.3 ml/cm H2O) (p<0.05). Involuntary detrusor contraction was not observed in the Sham or BOO groups, but was observed in 37.5% of subjects in the BD and BD with BOO groups. On histological examination, the bladder wall was thicker (3.75±0.68 mm) (p=0.601), and the connective tissue volume was significant increased (p=0.046), in the bladder muscularis mucosa in the BD groups compared to the BOO group.Conclusion:Physiological and histopathological changes in the bladder with BD combined with BOO are more evident than with BOO alone.

Bladder diverticula can be congenital or secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia with bladder outlet obstruction, and be a source of high postvoid residuals prompting surgical intervention. We sought to evaluate the outcomes of patients with bladder diverticula undergoing holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) for bladder outlet obstruction. We retrospectively reviewed HoLEP patients with at least one bladder diverticulum at two high volume institutions. All cases were performed in similar fashion. Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative patient variables were obtained and assessed. Of 2746 HoLEP patients, 51 were diagnosed with bladder diverticula before surgery. Mean prostate size was 80.8±50.0g and mean diverticulum size (largest if multiple) was 5.5±2.6cm. Preoperatively, urinary retention requiring catheterization was present in 28 (55%) patients. In the remainder, mean preoperative AUASI was 19.7, peak flow 7.2ml/s, and post-void residual (PVR) 365ml. At most recent follow-up (mean 12.2months), mean total AUASI was 8.6, peak flow 27.1ml/s, and PVR 145ml with 71, 276, and 221% improvement, respectively. All patients were voiding and none required catheterization. Only three (6%) patients required diverticulectomy at a mean of 15.2months after HoLEP for the following indications: hematuria (one patient)and urinary retention(two patients). HoLEP is an effective method of outlet obstruction treatment in patients with bladder diverticula. Most patients, even with large diverticula, do not require further treatment after the outlet obstruction has been relieved and can avoid more invasive surgical interventions.

The frequency, number, and underlying associations of bladder diverticula were studied in a pediatric population. Eighty-five children with bladder diverticula (31 girls and 54 boys) were retrospectively identified in a pediatric genitourinary data base of 5,084 children. Primary bladder diverticula were seen in 20 children with vesicoureteral reflux and 14 children without reflux. Fifty-one of the 85 children (60%) had associated neurogenic dysfunction of the bladder (n = 26), outlet obstruction (n = 14), or a syndrome (n = 9) or were postoperative (n = 2). A single child of the 26 with multiple bladder diverticula had no associated condition. In this population, bladder diverticula were found in 1.7% of the children. The presence of more than one diverticulum on a side was usually associated with neurogenic dysfunction of the bladder, bladder outlet obstruction, or syndromes such as Williams, Menkes, prune-belly, or Ehlers-Danlos type 9 syndromes.

Bladder diverticula represent protrusion of the urothelial mucosa through the bladder muscular layers and may be either congenital or acquired. Congenital bladder diverticula are usually located adjacent to the ureteral orifices and often are associated with vesicoureteral reflux. Acquired bladder diverticula are usually multiple in nature and are secondary to bladder outlet obstruction or neurogenic bladder. When bladder diverticula are small and do not cause symptoms, non-surgical observation is an acceptable management strategy. The absolute need for surgical intervention of bladder diverticula remains a controversial topic, where current surgical indications for bladder diverticula include diverticula larger than 3 cm, recurrent urinary tract infections, associated severe vesicoureteral reflux, voiding dysfunction, urinary retention, bladder stones, and lower urinary tract symptoms that are persistent after conservative treatment. Open surgical repair has traditionally been the primary treatment choice for bladder diverticula. However, recent advancements in laparoscopic and robotic technology have led to minimally invasive surgical treatment options as alternatives to open surgery with similar success rates, but with reduced morbidity, decreased hospital stay lengths, reduced pain medication requirements, and improved cosmesis.

Urinary Retention Secondary to Congenital Bladder Diverticula in Infants

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.TopicsUrinary bladder diverticulum, urinary retention, benign prostatic hypertrophy, POCUS, case report.

V2-09 ELECTROVAPORIZATION OF LARGE BLADDER DIVERTICULUM

Introduction:Bladder diverticula (BD) can be classified into congenital and acquired forms, with the latter accounting for approximately 90% of all cases, primarily among male patients. Although BD-associated anatomical bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) is uncommon, existing literature suggests that congenital BD are more frequently observed in male children and rarely in female children. While around 70% of acquired BD are linked to BOO secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia in male patients, clinical reports of female BD are less common. Furthermore, cases of female BD located posterior to the urethra, which lead to voiding difficulties, are exceedingly rare.Case presentation:Herein, we present a case of laparoscopic treatment in a 53-year-old female patient diagnosed with congenital bladder diverticulum causing progressively worsening dysuria. Voiding cystourethrography revealed a soft cystic protrusion of the posterior urethral wall during voiding, which reinforced the patient’s symptoms. Urodynamic examination showed elevated detrusor muscle contraction during voiding, a reduced urinary flow rate, and P/Q values indicative of significant BOO. Considering the patient’s clinical condition, we performed laparoscopic bladder diverticulectomy, partial urethral croppingplasty, and cystoplasty.Results:The laparoscopic bladder diverticulectomy, partial urethral croppingplasty, and cystoplasty procedures were completed thoroughly and with great success. However, complete removal of the diverticular epithelium proved challenging, resulting in an overall operative time of approximately 3 hours and 32 minutes. At the postoperative follow-up, the patient presented with symptoms of a lower urinary tract infection for a week, which were effectively resolved with oral antibiotics. At the 8-month follow-up, the patient reported normal urination and the absence of any discomfort during urination.Conclusion:Female bladder outlet obstruction resulting from posterior urethral BD can be challenging to visualize during transurethral cystoscopy, especially with limited angulation, and may even be overlooked. Furthermore, conventional transvaginal diverticulectomy is often difficult to perform effectively. Therefore, laparoscopic bladder diverticulectomy, partial urethral croppingplasty, and cystoplasty are considered appropriate treatment options for such cases.

Urinary bladder diverticula represent herniation of the urothelium through muscularis propria of the urinary bladder wall. Bladder diverticula do not contain a defined functional muscularis propria layer and therefore empty poorly with micturition. In the adult, bladder diverticula are often associated with bladder outlet obstruction or neurogenic vesicourethral dysfunction. Congenital bladder diverticula are usually solitary, associated with a smooth-walled bladder, and occur in the absence of bladder outlet obstruction. Bladder diverticula are most often diagnosed incidentally during the evaluation of nonspecific lower urinary tract symptoms or infection. We present the case report of a very large congenital diverticulum of the urinary bladder (probably aggravated by bladder outlet obstruction), presented in a 75-year-old man with symptoms of urinary obstruction, leading to chronic retention, frequency, and recurrent urinary tract infections.

GIANT BLADDER DIVERTICULA CAUSING BLADDER OUTLET OBSTRUCTION IN CHILDREN

Laparoscopic Bladder Diverticulectomy for Large Bladder Diverticulum: A Case Report

130 - Bladder and Female Urethral Diverticula

Chronic increase in the intravesical pressure secondary to bladder outlet obstruction can lead to the formation of bladder diverticulum. Bladder diverticulum may get pulled into the hernial sac and may become a component of the hernia. Here, we report the case of an elderly male who had an unusual presentation of urinary bladder diverticulum as the content in an obstructed inguinal hernia. Upon exploration, the bladder diverticulum was released from the inguinal canal and returned to the peritoneal cavity, following which conventional hernioplasty was done. Inguinal herniation of bladder diverticulum is an uncommon condition and can be perilous during surgery if not diagnosed preoperatively.

Pediatric urologists rarely encounter bladder diverticulum in children. If the bladder diverticulum has clinical manifestations such as pain, urinary tract infection, hematuria, voiding dysfunction, vesicoureteral reflux, or obstruction of the ureterovesical anastomosis, then surgical treatment is indicated. Recently, numerous publications began to appear on the removal of the bladder diverticulum using laparoscopic or vesicoscopic access. Several foreign publications have reported on the removal of a bladder diverticulum in children using a robotic approach. A 9-year-old boy who was diagnosed with a bladder diverticulum underwent robot-assisted bladder diverticulectomy in January 2020 at the Almazov National Medical Research Centre. Ports of da Vinci 12 and two 8-mm ports, as well as an assistant 5-mm port, were used, which were installed in typical places for lower abdominal surgery. The duration of the operation was 135 min, and the console time was 75 min. The blood loss volume was 20 mL. The patient was in the intensive care unit for 1 day. The urethral catheter was removed on day 7 after the operation. Urination independence, delays, and incontinence were not noted. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 9 in satisfactory condition. At the control examination after a year at the patients residence, she had no complaints, urination was not disrupted, and there were no pathological changes in the ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder. Robot-assisted bladder diverticulectomy in children is a feasible, effective, and safe treatment option in expert centers with extensive experience in robotic surgery. The described clinical case of bladder diverticulectomy is the first in Russia, which was performed using a robotic system in pediatric practice.

A rare case of female urinary retention caused by urethral leiomyoma: A case report.