title: Treatment of urachal anomalies: a minimally invasive surgery technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urachal disease is uncommon. The surgical treatment consists of the resection of the urachus throughout its entire length. Our objective is to demonstrate the use of minimally invasive surgery to treat this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients were studied and diagnosed. The technique used three 10-mm ports on the right hemi abdomen, through which the dissection of the urachus was performed from the umbilical extreme to the bladder. We evaluated the perioperative records to assess morbidity and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most patients suffered from episodes of umbilical discharge. The diagnosis was made mainly through clinical history and confirmed during the laparoscopic procedure. The urachus was resected throughout its entire length, and we did not perform a segmentary bladder resection in any patient. The average operative time was 66 minutes (range, 42 to 123), and no operative complications were associated with the technique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive surgery is a safe and effective procedure that allows the dissection of the urachus through its entire length, providing optimal postoperative results.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas. sana24@telcel.net.ve
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Navarrete
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez Ismayel
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sánchez Salas
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Navarrete Llopis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D014496:Urachal Cyst / Q000601:surgery*; D014497:Urachus / Q000002:abnormalities*