A persistent urethral diverticulum in pregnancy: Case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Objective: A urethral diverticulum (UD) is a localised evagination of the urethral mucosa that forms a herniation that is continuous with the lumen of the urethra. We report of a patient who presented with a persistent UD during consecutive pregnancies and present a review of the current literature of other cases of UD during pregnancy. Methods: A literature search was undertaken to identify previous research and case reports on the clinical presentation and management of UD in pregnancy using the search terms “pregnancy” and “urethral diverticulum”. Medline, PubMed and Cinahl were used as search engines. Results: Six publications that described UD in pregnancy were identified with a total of nine cases documented within the literature. The articles reviewed showed that UD during pregnancy can be managed conservatively with expectant management, antibiotics and incision and drainage if required. Conclusion: Overall, it is important for clinicians treating women in pregnancy to be aware of the rare diagnosis of UD, especially in those women who present with vague urinary symptoms refractory to other treatments. Brief Summary: A case presentation of UD and literature review of UD in pregnancy. Keywords: Urethral diverticulum, Pregnancy