Hernia and abdominal wall: patent urachus: practice question

A General Surgery question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Surgery · Hernia and abdominal wall: patent urachus

Sample item

A 2-week-old boy has a wet umbilicus with clear fluid leaking that increases when he cries or strains. The fluid has a creatinine concentration similar to urine. What is the diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Patent urachus

A patent urachus is a persisting channel between the bladder and the umbilicus, so urine leaks at the umbilicus, more when intra-abdominal pressure rises. Treatment is excision of the urachal remnant with a cuff of bladder, and an outlet obstruction should be excluded.

Option by option

  • A. Patent vitellointestinal duct

    A patent vitellointestinal duct discharges intestinal contents, with mucosa visible at the umbilicus.

  • B. Umbilical granuloma

    An umbilical granuloma is a small moist nodule with little fluid and not urine.

  • C. Omphalitis

    Omphalitis gives erythema and purulent discharge, not clear urine.

  • D. Patent urachus (correct)

    Correct. A urachal channel links the bladder to the umbilicus and leaks urine.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is D, Patent urachus. A patent urachus is a persisting channel between the bladder and the umbilicus, so urine leaks at the umbilicus, more when intra-abdominal pressure rises.

Why is "Patent vitellointestinal duct" not the answer?

A patent vitellointestinal duct discharges intestinal contents, with mucosa visible at the umbilicus.

Why is "Umbilical granuloma" not the answer?

An umbilical granuloma is a small moist nodule with little fluid and not urine.

Why is "Omphalitis" not the answer?

Omphalitis gives erythema and purulent discharge, not clear urine.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hernia and abdominal wall: patent urachus in General Surgery. Treatment is excision of the urachal remnant with a cuff of bladder, and an outlet obstruction should be excluded.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Hernia and abdominal wall: patent urachus?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.