Laparoscopic management of complicated urachal remnants in adults

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.

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.

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.

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.