OSMOLAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENLARGED UMBILICAL CORD AND PATENT URACHUS

A case of neonatal patent urachus with an enlarged umbilical cord is reported. The relationship between patent urachus and umbilical cord swelling was studied experimentally. It was concluded that reflux of urine through the patent urachus can cause umbilical cord swelling. Consequently, a patent urachus must be suspected in the presence of an abnormally large umbilical cord. Just before submitting this report, a 24-hour-old male admitted with imperforate anus had a large umbilicus, which, on failing to heal, was found to be the site of a draining urachus (Fig. 2AB). His umbilical cord was known to be excessively large. © 1969.