[Management of urachal remnants in children: Is surgical excision mandatory?].

INTRODUCTION

The classical management of urachal remants consists in surgical resection, in order to prevent infections and long term malignancies. However, some reports have recently spread a wait and see management. The aim of our study was to report the results of the surgical management in our center.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, monocentric review of all patients managed for urachal remnants from January 2005 to December 2014.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients have been operated during the study period (18 girls and 17 boys). Mean age at surgery was 4,9±4,4 years old. Twenty-seven patients were referred due to symptoms whereas 8 were discovered incidentally (4 by ultrasound scan and 4 during laparoscopy). Among them, 10 were urachal cysts, 15 were urachus sinusa and 10 were patent urachus. Thirty were operated using an open approach and 5 using a laparoscopic approach. Mean length of stay was 3,8±1,7days (1-10) with a mean duration of bladder drainage of 2,5±1 days. No major complications occurred. No abnormal tissue was discovered at the histological analysis.

CONCLUSION

Presentation of urachal remnants is variable but surgical outcomes remain excellent in our experience. When symptoms occur, the surgical decision is easy, but when the diagnosis is incidental, the decision is much more complicated. Official guidelines could ease the decision process and the management of urachal anomalies.