Open AccessEnhancing nurse practitioner understanding of urachal anomalies
Author(s) -
Severson Cherese R.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of the american academy of nurse practitioners
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1745-7599
pISSN - 1041-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-7599.2010.00580.x
Subject(s) - medicine , referral , nurse practitioners , incidence (geometry) , intensive care medicine , presentation (obstetrics) , sepsis , pediatrics , general surgery , nursing , surgery , health care , physics , optics , economics , economic growth
Purpose: To provide nurse practitioners an understanding of urachal anomalies, their presentations, and treatment options. Data sources: Scientific literature, including articles that address the pathogenesis, presentation, complications, diagnosis, and treatment of acquired and congenital urachal anomalies. Conclusion: Urachal disorders occur in 1 of 5000 persons. Complications from these disorders are even rarer. Early recognition of these anomalies can reduce the incidence of more serious complications such as secondary infections, sepsis, abscess formation, recurrent cystitis, and neoplasms. Implications for practice: Nurse practitioners will encounter patients with stable and acute complications from urachal anomalies. Awareness of these anomalies can expedite diagnosis, treatment, and referral therefore improving patient outcomes.