bovis - Articles
Patent urachus
Synonym(s): calf, scalding, urachal resection
Introduction
- Cause: congenital and acquired forms of failure of the urachus to occlude at the umbilicus. Acquired types may be associated with systemic debilitation and/or umbilical infection.
- Signs: presents within first 2 weeks of life with moist umbilicus and leakage of urine from the patent urachus. In acquired forms there may be severe systemic signs in a compromised neonatal calf.
- Diagnosis: history, signs.
- Treatment: medical vs surgical, local umbilical cleaning/skin protection, possibly cautery, primary problem care and surgical resection of the umbilical remnants with persistent cases.
- Prognosis: guarded in systemically ill calves.
Age predisposition
- Neonate.
Cost considerations
- Surgical resection.
- Medical management.
Pathogenesis
Pathophysiology
Congenital urachus syndrome
- Urachus never closes at birth
. - Unknown etiology possibly due to distention from cord torsion in utero or during delivery leading to tension of the umbilicus, dilation of the urachus and preventing occlusion/ incomplete urachal involution.
- Often accompanied by other congenital abnormalities.
Acquired urachus syndrome
- Re-opens post-partum as the dried umbilical stump falls off.
- Associated with umbilical infection/inflammation.
- Any cause of increased intra-abdominal pressure, eg meconium retention (tenesmus, dysuria etc).
- Excessive wetness or trauma to the umbilical stump, eg iatrogenic, over-zealous dam, etc.
- Prolonged recumbency in debilitated calves.
- Urine leakage → persistent irritation and potential source of infection.
- Urachal wall thinner than bladder wall and hence more prone to rupture.
- Spread of infection to intra abdominal umbilical remnants common in calves. Ascending infection can affect the bladder and if infection tracks up the umbilical blood vessels, the liver.
Timecourse
- Acquired forms develop in the first 2 weeks of life.
- Congenital forms are present at birth.
Diagnosis
Subscribe To View
This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.
Treatment
Subscribe To View
This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.
Prevention
Subscribe To View
This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.
Outcomes
Subscribe To View
This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.
Further Reading
Publications
Refereed Papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Nikahval B & Ahrari Khafi M S (2013) Congenital persistent urachus, urethral obstruction and uroperitoneum in a calf. Iranian J Vet Res 14 (2), 158-160.
- Braun U & Nuss K (2015) Uroperitoneum in cattle: Ultrasonographic findings, diagnosis and treatment. Acta Vet Scand 57 (1), 36 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- Bishop Y (2005) Ed The Veterinary Formulary. 6th edn. Pharmaceutical Press. ISBN: 0-85369-579-2.