Persistent or patent urachus in calf

Pashu Sandesh, 13 March 2020

VAIBHAV BHARDWAJ*,  GAURAV KUMAR 

Introduction:

Persistent or patent urachus is a congenital condition in which embryonic connection (called urachus) between the urinary bladder and allantoic sac of a fetus fails to close after birth causing dribbling of urine from the umbilical region of the newborn. In simple words, we can say that the urachus is a long tube connecting the urinary bladder and belly button of the fetus, which usually closed after birth. But if it fails to close after birth, a condition called persistent or patent urachus. This condition can be simple or sometimes associated with omphalitis, congenital stricture or occlusion of the urethra. Newborn affecting with this condition show continuous dribbling of urine from umbilical region days after birth and the surrounding area remains wet. 

Causes of patent urachus:

 Congenital aetiology of patent urachus is unknown but may be presumed due to torsion of the umbilical cord during fetal life or sometimes may occur due to tension on umbilicus during parturition causing dilation of the urachus which prevents their occlusion or incomplete involution. It may occur as an acquired condition associated with umbilical infection/inflammation or any cause of increased intra-abdominal pressure due to meconium retention (atresia ani).

Clinical signs:

  • Free flow urination or dribbling of urine through the umbilical opening.
  • A hard tube or cord-like structure caudal to the umbilicus is palpated.
  • Mildly distended abdomen.
  • Area surrounding umbilicus remains wet.

Surgical treatment:

The calf is placed on dorsal recumbency and the ventral abdomen is prepared antiseptically. Local analgesia (2% Lignocaine hydrochloride) is infiltered into the surgical site. A skin incision is made around the umbilicus and extended to the abdominal wall. Traction is applied to the umbilicus and the urachus is traced up to the bladder and is ligated by chromic catgut as close to the bladder as possible. The surgical area is digitally palpated to check for the presence of adhesions. The skin is closed with non-absorbable braided silk material using interrupted horizontal mattress.

Postoperative management:

  • Broad-spectrum antibiotics and analgesic should be administered intramuscularly for 5-7 days.
  • Prevention of operated site from soil, faeces or urine contamination.
  • Antiseptic cleaning of the surgical wound and insect repellent spray 3-4 times a day up to recovery.
  • Skin sutures removal after 7-10 days.
  • In the case of pus or maggots at the surgical site, report the veterinarian immediately.

VAIBHAV BHARDWAJ*,  GAURAV KUMAR 

Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India.

 

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