Patent Urachus Repair
Definition
Patent urachus repair is a surgery to close a defect of the bladder (patent urachus). The urachus is a tube that connects the bladder to the umbilicus during fetal development.
After birth, the urachus normally closes and becomes a ligament. When the urachus fails to close after birth, the tube remains open (patent). This leaves an abnormal opening (patent urachus) between the bladder and the umbilicus and increases the possibility of introducing bacteria and infection into the bladder.
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Overview & Description
While the child is unconscious and pain-free (using general anesthesia), an incision is made in the lower abdomen. The urachus is located and removed from the umbilicus and the bladder. The bladder opening is repaired, and the incision is closed.
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