Patent urachus repair
Definition
Patent urachus repair is surgery to close a defect of the bladder. The urachus is a tube that connects the bladder to the area where the umbiblical cord was attached in the womb. As the baby grows inside the womb, the urachus normally closes.
When the urachus fails to close, the tube remains open (patent). This creates an abnormal opening between the bladder and area where the umbilical cord was removed. The condition increases the risk for bladder infections and may become cancerous.
Description
While the child is unconscious and pain-free (using general anesthesia), a surgical cut is made in the lower abdomen. The urachus is found and removed from the umbilicus and the bladder. The bladder opening is repaired, and the cut is closed.
Why the Procedure is Performed
Surgery is recommended for a patent urachus that does not close after birth.
Risks
Risks for any anesthesia are:
- Reactions to medications
- Problems breathing
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Bladder infection
- Bladder leaks -- if this happens, a catheter is inserted and left in place until the bladder heals
Outlook (Prognosis)
The outcome is usually excellent.
Recovery
The infant can be fed normally and should get better quickly. A few days in the hospital is all that is usually needed.
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Urology, Department of Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
