Urethral diverticula in women. Review of 15 cases

Objective: To evaluate the aetiopathogenic, diagnostic and therapeutic aspe cts of urethral diverticula in women. Material and Methods: Over a 10-year period (January 1990 to December 1999) . IS patients with a mean age of 36 years (range: 25 to 46 years) with uret hral diverticulum were included in this study, The mean parity was 2 with a history of long and difficult delivery in 6 cases. All patients presented lower urinary tract symptoms with a clinical diverticulum on gynaecological examination (14 cases) or on retrograde and voiding cystourethrography (14 cases) or intravenous urography (one case). Diverticulectomy was performed via a transvaginal approach in the dorsal position. Results: There were no postoperative complications. All patients were revie wed with a mean follow-up of 3 years. The urinary symptoms had completely d isappeared in 14 cases. One patient was reoperated for recurrent diverticul um. Conclusion: Young women with recurrent voiding disorders must be examined f or the presence of urethral diverticulum that can be confirmed by cystouret hrography. Transvaginal diverticulectomy in the lithotomy position is the o peration which ensures the best results.