Laparoscopic treatment of urachal remnants in children

PURPOSE: Urachal remnants are generally treated with the open method. We evaluated the role of laparoscopy for this anomaly in a consecutive series of 27 children treated during a 12-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 27 children with a median age of 4.7 years presented with urachal remnants between 1993 and 2006. Two different laparoscopic approaches were used. In the first 9 children a 5 mm laparoscope was inserted at the umbilicus, with working trocars in the left and right upper abdominal wall. In the remaining patients the laparoscope was placed at the left lower abdominal wall, with working ports placed at the left lower and upper abdomen. The working ports were 2 mm trocars. The urachal remnants were ligated and excised by electrocautery, and the bladder-sided stump was ligated with 2 sutures. No drains were used. The specimen were exteriorized via the umbilicus. RESULTS: Median operative time was 35 minutes. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications, and no recurrences. Cosmetic results were excellent. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic approach for urachal remnants is safe, allows for better visualization of the anatomy and yields a cosmetic result that is superior to the open approach.     

Laparoscopic management of complicated urachal remnants

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience with a laparoscopic approach to managing symptomatic urachal anomalies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five patients (median age 19 years, range 2-43) had a laparoscopic excision of a complicated urachal remnant between 2001 and 2004. Three ports were routinely used, although their positioning varied as our technique developed with experience. The urachal remnant was dissected from the umbilicus to the bladder dome and then removed intact. RESULTS: All five operations had no serious immediate complications and minimal blood loss. One patient developed a small peri-umbilical haematoma after surgery and another had a persistent umbilical discharge at follow-up, and required open excision of residual remnant tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic approach appears to be a safe and effective alternative to open surgery for this condition. Despite the slight risk of incomplete excision, the reduced morbidity of this procedure and better cosmetic result would appear advantageous.     

Laparoscopic management of urachal remnants in adulthood

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of laparoscopic excision of urachal remnants (LUR), and to compare the outcome with that of the traditional open excision of urachal remnants (OUR). METHODS: Between February 2001 and December 2005, six patients with a mean age of 23.8 years who had a symptomatic urachal sinus underwent radical LUR. Using 12 mm and 5 mm ports, the caudal stump of the urachus was ligated with an absorbable clip and divided. The peritoneal and preperitoneal tissue between the medial umbilical ligaments was dissected free of the transversalis fascia. Dissection was carried out along the preperitoneal plane toward the umbilicus. The cephalic side of the lesion was ligated at the umbilicus with an endo-loop and divided. In addition, four patients who underwent a traditional OUR were included. Peri- and postoperative records were reviewed to assess morbidity, recovery, and outcome. RESULTS: The operative duration was not significantly shorter for the LUR group than the OUR group, but there was generally a reduction in blood loss (mean 16.5 vs 68.3 mL), an earlier resumption of eating (mean 1.3 vs 2.5 days), and a shorter hospital stay (mean 5.3 vs 10.5 days). There were no intraoperative complications in either the LUR or the OUR group. Mean follow up was 5 (range 4-12) months. There were no postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that LUR can be safely and satisfactorily performed in adulthood.     

Laparoscopic management of complicated urachal remnants in adults

Objectives

The traditional surgical approach for removing a urachal remnant is via a large transverse or midline infraumbilical incision. We review our experience with laparoscopic urachal cyst excision and report the efficacy and outcomes of this approach as a less morbid, minimally invasive alternative.

Methods

Between August 2005 and March 2009, eight patients with a mean age of 26?years who had symptomatic urachal cysts underwent laparoscopic radical excision of the urachal remnant. Using three ports, the urachal remnant was dissected from the umbilicus to the bladder dome and then removed intact via the umbilicus. Umbilicoplasty was performed by a plastic surgeon. We retrospectively reviewed the perioperative records to assess morbidity and outcomes.

Results

All eight operations were completed successfully. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were reported at a mean follow-up of 3.2?years. Mean operative time was 147.5?min including umbilicoplasty. Pathological evaluation confirmed a benign urachal remnant in each case. There have been no recurrences of symptoms nor postoperative complications during follow-up. Mean time to full recovery, defined as return to normal life without pain, was 16?days. The patients with bladder cuff resection had a delayed full convalescence (25 vs. 13?days) due to a minimum degree of dysuria.

Conclusion

A laparoscopic approach with the removal of urachal remnants via the umbilicus appears to be a safe and effective alternative with better cosmesis when compared to an open approach.     

Actinomycosis of urachal remnants

We report a case of urachal actinomycosis. The patient presented with complaints of micturition pain and a lower abdominal mass. Computerized tomography and an echogram showed the mass extending from the dome of the bladder to just beneath the rectus muscle. Exploration revealed a hard mass in the urachal cord, which was near the dome of the bladder and extended to the umbilicus. The mass and urachal cord were resected, and histopathological examination revealed actinomycosis of the urachal remnants.     

腹腔镜手术治疗脐尿管未闭畸形7例报告

目的:探讨腹腔镜手术治疗脐尿管未闭畸形的可行性和安全性。方法:回顾分析1998年8月至2008年8月我院行腹腔镜手术治疗7例脐尿管未闭畸形患者的临床资料。结果:手术均获成功,无中转开放手术。平均手术时间45m in,术中、术后均无并发症发生,无复发和癌变病例。结论:腹腔镜手术治疗脐尿管未闭畸形具有安全、创伤小、视野清、疗效好等优点。     

Current diagnosis and management of urachal remnants

Purpose

The purposes of this study are to review our experience with patients who were found to have urachal remnants. We discuss their diagnosis and management and we also evaluate post-operative complications in our cohort of patients with this entity.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with a urachal remnant (UR) between January 2006 and December 2010. Patient variables included age, gender, presenting symptoms and signs, diagnostic modality, and type of urachal remnant. Operative management, post-operative complications, and non-operative follow-up were abstracted.

Results

We identified 103 pediatric patients with either a urachal cyst (n = 38), urachal diverticulum (n = 13), urachal sinus (n = 11), patent urachus (n = 21), or a non-specific atretic urachal remnant (n = 20). Seventy-eight patients had symptomatic URs. Thirty-four symptomatic patients underwent surgical excision of the UR and 44 symptomatic patients were observed. Eighteen URs were incidentally diagnosed in asymptomatic patients, none of whom underwent surgical excision. In 7 patients symptoms could not be determined from the records. No patients with non-specific atretic remnants were operated upon. Nineteen of the observed patients were reimaged subsequently. In fifteen (78.9%) of these patients, the URs had resolved spontaneously. None of the patients who were observed required subsequent excision of the UR. Post-operative complications occurred in 14.7% of patients in whom URs were excised.

Conclusion

Review of our patients diagnosed with URs indicates there is a subset of patients in whom spontaneous resolution could be expected. Complications are not uncommon after surgical excision.     

Prostatic specific antigen: immunoreactivity in urachal remnants

Urachal remnants were obtained at autopsy from 10 males and 15 females in order to determine whether prostatic specific antigen (PSA) is present in that tissue. Immunohistochemical staining was carried out using a commercially available antibody to PSA. Four cases (three females and one male) showed focal positive reaction of PSA, predominantly in narrow glandular structures of metaplastic origin. Therefore, it cannot be excluded that PSA might occur in urachal adenocarcinomas. PSA-staining is evidently not confined exclusively to tissue originating in the prostate.     

Surgical implications of urachal remnants: Presentation and management

Background/Purpose: The abdominal manifestations of urachal remnants often prompt referral to the pediatric general surgeon. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the authors[apos ] management of this anomaly. Methods: The authors performed a retrospective review of patients presenting to their institution with urachal remnants between 1984 and 2001. Clinical and radiographic details of presentation, management, and outcomes are described. Results: Twenty-six patients presented at a median age of 4 years (range, 2 days to 12 years), 16 were boys, and 18 required inpatient care. Eleven (42%) presented with infection, 7 (27%) with clear drainage, 3 (12%) with umbilical polyps/granulation, 3 (12%) with pain, one (4%) with recurrent urinary tract infections, and one (4%) with an asymptomatic punctum. One had an associated anomaly (hypospadias). Urinalysis and urine cultures did not correlate with infection. Ultrasound scan was diagnostic in greater than 90% of cases. Overall, 20 patients underwent primary cyst excision, and 6 underwent incision and drainage (I[amp ]D) with delayed excision. Five patients underwent primary excision while infected, and 2 had postoperative complications (wound infection and urine leak). All 6 patients who underwent 2-stage procedure initially presented with infection, and none had complications. Conclusions: Persistent urachal remnants can present at any age with a variety of clinical manifestations. Ultrasound scan is a reliable diagnostic tool. Additional diagnostic studies generally are not warranted. Simple excision of noninfected lesions is appropriate. In cases of acute infection, initial I[amp ]D with delayed cyst excision may be preferable to avoid unnecessary complications. J Pediatr Surg 38:798-803. [copy ] 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.     

Laparoscopic resection of a urachal remnant

The surgical management of urachal remnants in children is evolving. This case is one example, with clear diagnostic imaging and excellent clinical results that were achieved laparoscopically.     

Laparoscopic radical excision of urachal sinus

Persistent urachus is a rare congenital anomaly. Various types of remnants have been described including cyst, alternating sinus, patent urachus, diverticulum, and sinus. The most common presenting symptom of urachal sinus is umbilical discharge. Radical excision of the remnant, with or without a bladder cuff, is essential to prevent future malignant degeneration or recurrence of the remnant. Although open surgical excision has been the treatment of choice for many years, the laparoscopic approach has become an attractive alternative because of its association with less postoperative pain, better cosmesis, and rapid convalescence. Laparoscopic radical excision of a urachal sinus was performed in a 16-year-old female patient who presented with umbilical discharge.     

腹腔镜下治疗成人脐尿管囊肿的临床分析

目的 探讨腹腔镜下脐尿管囊肿切除术治疗脐尿管囊肿的临床疗效.方法 回顾性分析2011年10月至2015年10月本院5例脐尿管囊肿患者进行腹腔镜下脐尿管囊肿切除术的临床资料及手术结果.结果 5例患者中4例手术获得了成功,其中1例术前具有腹膜炎体征的患者中转为开放手术,术中均无大出血、周围及腹腔脏器损伤等严重并发症;手术时间平均108 min(60～ 150 min),失血量平均约37 mL(20～65 mL),术后住院天数平均8d,2周后均恢复日常活动.4例患者术后病检证实脐尿管囊肿,1例病检回报示脐尿管肉芽肿性炎症,倾向于结核,术后给予抗结核治疗半年;所有患者随访6个月到1年,术后无肉眼血尿、切口感染及囊肿复发、恶变等.结论 腹腔镜下脐尿管囊肿切除术安全有效,可以作为治疗脐尿管囊肿的首选手术方式.对于不伴有脐尿管膀胱瘘者,可不必同时行膀胱袖口切除术.     

Laparoscopic management of urachal cysts in adulthood

PURPOSE: Managing persistent and symptomatic urachal anomalies requires wide surgical excision. Such intervention is recommended to prevent symptom recurrence and complications, most notably malignant degeneration. However, traditional open excision is associated with significant morbidity and prolonged convalescence. We report our experience with the laparoscopic excision of urachal remnants as a less morbid, minimally invasive surgical alternative. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 1993 and December 1999, 4 patients with a mean age of 43.3 years who had a symptomatic urachal cyst underwent laparoscopic radical excision of the urachal remnant. Using 2, 10 mm. and 1 or 2, 5 mm. ports the urachus and medial umbilical ligaments were divided at the umbilicus cephalad to the cyst. The specimen, which included the urachus, cyst and medial umbilical ligaments, was then separated from the bladder dome with or without the bladder cuff and removed intact. We reviewed the perioperative records to assess morbidity, recovery and outcome. RESULTS: All 4 procedures were completed successfully. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were reported at a mean followup of 15 months (range 2 to 24). Mean operative time was 180 minutes (range 150 to 210) and average hospital stay was 2.75 days (range 1 to 4). Pathological evaluation confirmed a benign urachal remnant in each case. All patients resumed normal activity within 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: To minimize the morbidity of radical excision the laparoscopic management of benign urachal remnants in adulthood is efficacious and our preferred method of management.     

Outcomes of laparoscopic resection of urachal remnants followed by novel umbilicoplasty

Objective

The purpose of the study was to report the outcomes of our modified techniques of laparoscopic urachal resection, followed by novel umbilical-plasty using dermal regenerative grafts for symptomatic urachal remnants.

Methods

Between March 2014 and December 2016, laparoscopic urachal resection was carried out on 45 patients with complaints of urachal remnants. After extraction of the specimen and closure of the fascia at the umbilical site, a 1-cm square section of dermal regeneration sheet (TERUDERMIS®, Olympus) was suture retained between the fascia and the skin. Patient satisfaction with cosmesis was scored prospectively using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Perioperative records were reviewed to assess surgical outcomes.

Results

Laparoscopic urachal resection was successfully conducted via the transperitoneal approach. Postoperative bleeding was experienced in one patient (2.2%), which was subsequently controlled laparoscopically. Infection subsided with symptomatic relief in all patients. No symptomatic recurrences were encountered. Over 80% of patients (37/45) rated the cosmetic outcome of the plasty as good to excellent, with the median scores of 8 (range 5–10).

Conclusions

Laparoscopic urachal resection is safe and curative with reasonable risk of complications. Novel umbilicoplasty using dermal regenerative graft is very simple technique and offers satisfactory cosmetic outcomes. Further follow-up and cosmesis evaluation are required.

     

The impact of preoperative ultrasound on correct diagnosis of urachal remnants in children

Background

Ultrasound is a noninvasive imaging method used widely in urachal diagnostics. This study investigated the effectiveness of ultrasonography in correctly depicting urachal anomalies in children.

Methods

Preoperative ultrasound findings of all patients who were operated on for suspected urachal anomalies between 1990 and 2008 were retrospectively compared with the final diagnosis.

Results

Fifty-three patients (31 female, 22 male; ∼2.6 years; range, 0-17 years) were reviewed. In 37 patients, the final diagnosis of an urachal anomaly matched the ultrasound findings. In 7 patients, there was a false-positive ultrasound finding, and in 9 patients, there was a false-negative ultrasound finding. Three of 4 patients with urachal cysts, 23 of 29 patients with urachal fistulas, and 8 of 10 patients with urachal sinuses were correctly identified by ultrasonography. In 10 patients, no urachal rests were found intraoperatively: in 7 of these patients, urachal rests were falsely suspected by ultrasound. The positive predictive value for ultrasound is 83%, whereas the negative predictive value is 25%. The sensitivity for this diagnostic method is 79% and the specificity 30%.

Conclusions

Ultrasound helps to identify urachal anomalies in case of their presence but is not helpful to rule out a nonexisting urachal anomaly.     

Laparoscopic management of urachal cyst associated with umbilical hernia

The urachal cyst is a rare clinical entity of a urachal remnant. It is usually asymptomatic but can present with haematuria, tumour, urachal stone and infection. We present a case of a 63-year-old lady with a body mass index (BMI) of 49 who presented with a painful swelling in the umbilical region associated with an umbilical hernia. An ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scan showed a suspected herniation of an umbilical remnant cyst through a paraumbilical defect. Laparoscopy confirmed the urachal cyst of 3 cm in size with a band connected with the cyst down to the urinary bladder associated with a 3-cm paraumbilical hernia. We removed the cyst and repaired the hernia laparoscopically uneventfully, after which her recovery was perfect. Radiological and laparoscopic pictures have not been reported in the English literature before. Although this condition is very rare, we suggest that it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of painful paraumbilical swelling. CT scanning and laparoscopy seems to be valuable, especially in obese patients.     

腹腔镜扩大膀胱部分切除术治疗成人脐尿管肿瘤五例报告并文献复习

目的探讨腹腔镜扩大膀胱部分切除术治疗成人脐尿管肿瘤的可行性和临床疗效。 方法回顾性分析我院采用普通腹腔镜和达芬奇机器人辅助腹腔镜下扩大膀胱部分切除术治疗脐尿管肿瘤5例临床资料,手术切除范围包括脐尿管、脐孔、脐尿管肿物、脐正中韧带、部分腹膜以及与脐尿管肿物相连的部分膀胱顶部,对手术时间、术后住院天数、有无术后并发症及随访有无肿瘤复发等指标进行分析,评价手术疗效。检索国内外相关文献,讨论脐尿管肿瘤的发病特点、影像学特征以及治疗方法。 结果5例手术均成功,无中转开放,平均手术时间140 min,术中出血少,术中术后无严重并发症出现,术后平均住院天数7.4 d,其中3例行术后辅助化疗3个疗程,化疗方案为顺铂+紫杉醇,术后随访1~4年无复发。术后病理诊断1例为绒毛状腺瘤,3例为脐尿管黏液腺癌,1例为浸润性高级尿路上皮癌,所有病例切缘及淋巴结均未见癌累及。 结论腹腔镜扩大膀胱部分切除术治疗成人脐尿管肿瘤,是一种安全、有效的方法。     

腹腔镜下扩大性膀胱部分切除联合盆腔淋巴结清扫术治疗脐尿管癌

Objective To discuss the techniques and clinical efficacy of laparoscopic partial cystectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy for urachal adenocarcinoma. Methods From July 2006 to April 2008, 4 patients with urachal adenocarcinoma were managed by the laparoscopic procedure. Three patients were male, the other one was female, with a median age of 51 (range 42 to 66)years. The mean size of tumors was 3.4(rang 1.9 to 5.4)cm in diameter. Three of them were diagnosed as mucinous adenocarcinoma, the other one was adenocarcinoma. There was 1 patient at stage Ⅱ , and the other three as stage Ⅲ according to Sheldon Stage. Four patients were performed by transperitoneal approach. The boundaries of resection were similar to the open surgery, including resection of the tumor with normal margins, the peritoneum lateral to the two medial unbilical ligaments,the posterior sheath of the rectus muscle and the muscle fibers of the rectus muscle below it, and bilateral pelvic lymphanodes. Results The procedure was successfully in all 4 patients, with a mean operative time of 220(range 150 to 350)min, a mean estimated blood loss of 180 (range 120 to 290)ml.No significant intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred, except for an inferior epigastric artery injury in 1 case. The mean postoperative in-dwelling urinary catheter time was 6 (range 5 to 7)d, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 6 (range 5 to 8)d. All 36 resected lymph nodes (range 8 to 11) were negative. At a median follow-up of 25(range 15 to 36) months, there was no evidence of recurrent disease by radiologic or cystoscopic evaluation. Conclusion Laparoscopic partial cystectomy and bilateral extended pelvic lymphadenectomy in selected patients with urachal tumors could be a safe, feasible, minimally invasive procedure.