Patent Omphalomesenteric Duct : 64 cases in Japan

Abstract

A newborn baby with a patent omphalomesenteric duct was successfully operated on by us. This disease is rare and has a reported incidence of about two out of 30, 000 live births (0.0067%) in Europe and America. There have been reports on 63 cases in Japan from 1925 to 1988. We tried to analyze the clinical features of 64 cases, including ours. Males predominate with a sex ratio of 2.3 : 1. Ileal prolapse is the most serious complication, and occurred in 24 of 60 cases (40%). Surgery was carried out on 60 cases (94%), and 8 cases of them (13%) died. Surgical treatment should be undertaken as a semi-emergency, once the diagnosis is made.