Hidden umbilical anomalies: case reports of newborns with a persistent urachus and a persistent vitellointestinal duct

Introduction: Anomalies in the umbilical region of newborns encompass a range of congenital malformations that require careful diagnosis. These conditions may lead to delayed healing of the umbilical stump, discharge from the navel, and pose challenges for pediatricians. Among these, vitellointestin...

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Main Authors: Aleksandra Kątnik, Klaudia Szala, Grzegorz Kudela, Agnieszka Wiernik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach 2025-04-01
Series:Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis
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Online Access:https://annales.sum.edu.pl/Hidden-umbilical-anomalies-case-reports-of-newborns-with-a-persistent-urachus-and,200707,0,2.html
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author Aleksandra Kątnik
Klaudia Szala
Grzegorz Kudela
Agnieszka Wiernik
author_facet Aleksandra Kątnik
Klaudia Szala
Grzegorz Kudela
Agnieszka Wiernik
author_sort Aleksandra Kątnik
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Anomalies in the umbilical region of newborns encompass a range of congenital malformations that require careful diagnosis. These conditions may lead to delayed healing of the umbilical stump, discharge from the navel, and pose challenges for pediatricians. Among these, vitellointestinal duct (VID) anomalies are the most common, occurring in approximately 2–3% of the population. The VID, an embryonic structure connecting the yolk sac to the primitive midgut, normally regresses during development. Failure of this process can result in various anomalies, the most common being Meckel’s diverticulum. Similarly, urachal anomalies arise when embryonic urachus persists, potentially presenting as abnormalities at the umbilicus. Case reports: A 6-day-old male newborn with a draining fistula at the umbilicus was transferred to our institution with a suspected diagnosis of persistent urachus. After admission, the visible fistula was catheterized under ultrasound guidance, revealing a connection to the intestinal loops. This finding indicated a diagnosis of a persistent VID, which was subsequently excised. Another patient was a 15-day-old female newborn with a bladder defect detected during a prenatal ultrasound examination. An everted patent urachus was diagnosed after birth, which was subsequently treated by means of surgical excision. Conclusions: Abnormalities in the umbilicus may raise the suspicion of persistent fetal structures. A thorough physical examination, supplemented by ultrasound and catheterization, can effectively make the correct diagnosis. Surgical treatment is recommended, involving resection of the persistent urachus or resection of the persistent VID with the bowel fragment.
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spelling doaj-art-13a44b5060f846ee8fe81fee696b85cb2025-08-20T03:11:36ZengŚląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w KatowicachAnnales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis1734-025X2025-04-017910110510.18794/aams/200707Hidden umbilical anomalies: case reports of newborns with a persistent urachus and a persistent vitellointestinal ductAleksandra Kątnik0https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0060-5102Klaudia Szala1https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7715-8024Grzegorz Kudela2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6743-9833Agnieszka Wiernik3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4405-0822Students’ Scientific Club at the Department of Paediatric Surgery and Urology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, PolandStudents’ Scientific Club at the Department of Paediatric Surgery and Urology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, PolandDepartment of Paediatric Surgery and Urology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, PolandDepartment of Paediatric Surgery and Urology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, PolandIntroduction: Anomalies in the umbilical region of newborns encompass a range of congenital malformations that require careful diagnosis. These conditions may lead to delayed healing of the umbilical stump, discharge from the navel, and pose challenges for pediatricians. Among these, vitellointestinal duct (VID) anomalies are the most common, occurring in approximately 2–3% of the population. The VID, an embryonic structure connecting the yolk sac to the primitive midgut, normally regresses during development. Failure of this process can result in various anomalies, the most common being Meckel’s diverticulum. Similarly, urachal anomalies arise when embryonic urachus persists, potentially presenting as abnormalities at the umbilicus. Case reports: A 6-day-old male newborn with a draining fistula at the umbilicus was transferred to our institution with a suspected diagnosis of persistent urachus. After admission, the visible fistula was catheterized under ultrasound guidance, revealing a connection to the intestinal loops. This finding indicated a diagnosis of a persistent VID, which was subsequently excised. Another patient was a 15-day-old female newborn with a bladder defect detected during a prenatal ultrasound examination. An everted patent urachus was diagnosed after birth, which was subsequently treated by means of surgical excision. Conclusions: Abnormalities in the umbilicus may raise the suspicion of persistent fetal structures. A thorough physical examination, supplemented by ultrasound and catheterization, can effectively make the correct diagnosis. Surgical treatment is recommended, involving resection of the persistent urachus or resection of the persistent VID with the bowel fragment.https://annales.sum.edu.pl/Hidden-umbilical-anomalies-case-reports-of-newborns-with-a-persistent-urachus-and,200707,0,2.htmlumbilical fistulaomphalomesenteric duct remnantpatent vitellointestinal ductcongenital malformationspatent urachus
spellingShingle Aleksandra Kątnik
Klaudia Szala
Grzegorz Kudela
Agnieszka Wiernik
Hidden umbilical anomalies: case reports of newborns with a persistent urachus and a persistent vitellointestinal duct
Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis
umbilical fistula
omphalomesenteric duct remnant
patent vitellointestinal duct
congenital malformations
patent urachus
title Hidden umbilical anomalies: case reports of newborns with a persistent urachus and a persistent vitellointestinal duct
title_full Hidden umbilical anomalies: case reports of newborns with a persistent urachus and a persistent vitellointestinal duct
title_fullStr Hidden umbilical anomalies: case reports of newborns with a persistent urachus and a persistent vitellointestinal duct
title_full_unstemmed Hidden umbilical anomalies: case reports of newborns with a persistent urachus and a persistent vitellointestinal duct
title_short Hidden umbilical anomalies: case reports of newborns with a persistent urachus and a persistent vitellointestinal duct
title_sort hidden umbilical anomalies case reports of newborns with a persistent urachus and a persistent vitellointestinal duct
topic umbilical fistula
omphalomesenteric duct remnant
patent vitellointestinal duct
congenital malformations
patent urachus
url https://annales.sum.edu.pl/Hidden-umbilical-anomalies-case-reports-of-newborns-with-a-persistent-urachus-and,200707,0,2.html
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