Enhancing nurse practitioner understanding of urachal anomalies.

PURPOSE: To provide nurse practitioners an understanding of urachal anomalies, their presentations, and treatment options.

DATA SOURCES: Scientific literature, including articles that address the pathogenesis, presentation, complications, diagnosis, and treatment of acquired and congenital urachal anomalies.

CONCLUSION

Urachal disorders occur in 1 of 5000 persons. Complications from these disorders are even rarer. Early recognition of these anomalies can reduce the incidence of more serious complications such as secondary infections, sepsis, abscess formation, recurrent cystitis, and neoplasms.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Nurse practitioners will encounter patients with stable and acute complications from urachal anomalies. Awareness of these anomalies can expedite diagnosis, treatment, and referral therefore improving patient outcomes.