Nonoperative management of a patent urachus

Patent urachus accounts for 10% to 15% of all reported urachal abnormalities in the literature. Treatment in the past has relied on immediate surgery. Conservative therapy with bladder catheter drainage, resulting in spontaneous closure, has not been described. We report a case of patent urachus in a 6-day-old infant who presented with urine drainage from the umbilicus. Radiographic studies confirmed a patent urachus. One week of urethral catheterization resulted in spontaneous closure of the patent urachus. This case suggests that initial treatment should consist of urethral catheterization for 1 to 2 weeks, followed by repeat voiding cystourethrogram. If the patent urachus still persists, one should proceed to surgical correction.