Surgical strategy of urachal remnants in children

A urachus is a vestigial tubular structure that connects the urinary bladder to the allantois during early embryonic development. Urachal remnants are classified as patent urachus, urachal sinus, urachal cyst, and urachal diverticulum. Ten patients with urachal remnants underwent surgery at our institution between 2015 and 2019. Six patients had a urachal sinus, and four had a urachal diverticulum. Two patients with urachal sinus underwent excision of the urachal remnant, from the umbilicus to the urinary bladder, using an umbilical approach. The other four patients with urachal sinus underwent laparoscopic surgery with excision of the urachal remnant, from the umbilicus to the urinary bladder. All patients with urachal diverticulum underwent open excision of the diverticulum through a Pfannenstiel incision. Pathologic examination of all urachal remnants showed no evidence of neoplasm and complete excision. All patients had an uneventful postoperative course and are doing well.