Successful Management of the Omphalomesenteric Fistula: About Three Case Reports

Abstract

The omphalomesenteric duct is an embryologic connection between the midgut and yolk sac, which typically disappears at the 5th to 7th week of gestation. Failure of the obliteration process can lead to omphalomesenteric duct remnants. It usually has a difficult diagnosis, manifested by a variety of cutaneous signs, such as an umbilical mass, granulation tissue, or discharge. This article reports three cases of total persistence of the OMD and reviews the surgical management of those lesions. The first case reports a 6-day-old boy with a patent omphalomesenteric duct fistula opening to the umbilicus presenting with feces sprouting from the umbilical stump. The second one reports a one-month-old infant brought to the hospital with umbilical granuloma, with no response to topical treatment that later started draining feces from the umbilical cord. The third one reports a three-day-old male newborn that manifested a granuloma-like lesion on the umbilical scar with no improvement with topical treatment. A simple catheterization with a relation catheter was performed in all cases showing drainage of a bilious secretion. they were then diagnosed with a persistence of the Vitelline Duct. All infants had a similar surgical approach, with an abdominal elective incision made around the lesion on the abdominal wall. Identification of the fistula trajectory, followed by resection of the bowel segment that contains the fistulae and a formation of a terminal-terminal anastomosis.