Congenital Bladder Diverticulum Presenting as Urinary Retention in a Neonate: A Case Report

Congenital bladder diverticulum is a rare cause of acute urinary retention in infants and children, often requiring surgical repair. Given technical complexities and anesthetic risks associated with neonatal surgery, neonates presenting with urinary retention are typically managed using a staged approach involving an immediate vesicostomy followed by delayed surgical repair. We present the case of a two-week-old male neonate with acute urinary retention due to a large congenital bladder diverticulum. His urinary retention was initially managed with clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). He ultimately underwent successful surgical excision of the diverticulum at seven months of age. Initial management with CIC may obviate the need for immediate surgery in neonates and young infants with congenital bladder diverticula presenting with acute urinary retention.