Background

Congenital hernia of the umbilical cord (CHUC) is a rare congenital anomaly and is characterized by herniation of small bowel and/or other viscera into the umbilical cord. It occurs due to failed closure of umbilical ring. A thin strip of normal skin always enwraps the umbilical ring and proximal part of the cord. Although recognized as a distinct entity since 1920s, CHUC is often misdiagnosed as a minor omphalocele, resulting in its underreporting [1, 2]. The CHUC with contents as patent vitellointestinal duct (PVID) and its remnants or atresia and even perforation of herniated gut has been reported [3, 4]. We are reporting one such rare case of this anomaly which presented with rupture of hernia sac and evisceration of small gut with reverse ileal intussusception via PVID. It was successfully managed in two steps: first by repositing the gut into abdomen at the time of arrival and then subsequently by abdominal exploration with resection of the vitellointestinal duct. In this report, the idea and need of staging the management of the index case in two steps will also be discussed.

Case presentation

A 46-day-old male child weighing 3.4 kg was admitted in pediatric emergency with evisceration of small intestine through the umbilicus. The baby was full term, born by normal vaginal delivery at a peripheral center. At the time of delivery, the umbilical cord clamp was applied by the pediatrician which was not flush with skin (as told by parents while admission) probably due to umbilical cord hernia. The baby had a persistent discharge from umbilical stump and the consistency of it was watery, sometime greenish in color for which parents took treatment from local practitioner. On the day of admission, there was prolapse of gut via umbilicus because of which, the baby was referred to our institute. On closer examination at the time of arrival, it was observed that the gut was coming out via a normal umbilical ring and there was intussusception of the ileal loop through a patent vitellointestinal duct making a provisional diagnosis of ruptured sac of the hernia of the cord with PVID (Fig. 1). The child was sick and investigation revealed hemoglobin 8.5 g/dl and blood urea 52 m/dl and serum sodium 135 meq/L and potassium more than 6 meq/L. Because of poor general condition and dyselectrolytemia, the patient was managed in the emergency itself. Under sedation, the intussusception was reduced and small gut was reposited back into abdominal cavity after widening the umbilical ring The ileal segment with PVID was fixed to the umbilicus as stoma as a temporary measure (Fig. 2). Then patient was resuscitated with intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and infusion of packed cell volume. The general condition of the child improved and small gut started functioning via the enterotomy. Patient was then taken to operation theater after 36 h for exploration under general anesthesia. The ileal segment along with PVID was resected and end to end ileal anastomosis was performed. Patient recovered well in postoperative period. Subsequently, he was discharged home in a week in good general condition. Histopathological examination of the resected portion of the vitellointestinal duct revealed ileal mucosa.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Clinical photograph showing the evisceration of the small gut with reverse intussusception (arrow)

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Fig. 2
figure 2

Clinical photograph after reduction of gut loops with stoma on the abdominal wall

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Discussion

The reported incidence of congenital hernia of umbilical cord (CHUC) is low [1 in 5000] as compared to postnatal umbilical hernia, partly because most of these are misdiagnosed as omphalocele minors [5]. Embryologically, during early fetal life, a greater portion of the intestine lies in the proximal part of the umbilical cord which is called as extracelomic cavity. Normally, the intestines withdraw into the abdominal cavity at about 10‑12 weeks gestation, the umbilical ring closes and the extracelomic cavity is thereby obliterated. In rare cases, the umbilical ring does not close and in these situations variable portions of the intestines remain in the extracelomic cavity, which persists as congenital hernia into the umbilical cord. So, the CHUC is a separate entity which is distinct from other anterior abdominal wall anomalies such as gastroschisis and omphalocele [6]. The characteristic features of CHUC are as follows: an intact umbilical ring, absent abdominal wall deficiency, a cuff of skin from one half to one inch wide, which extends from the abdominal wall onto the neck of the sac which comprises of an outer layer of amnion and inner peritoneum and its contents varying from loops of the intestine to any movable intraperitoneal organ and even liver and gall bladder as contents have been reported [7, 8].

The associated anomalies in hernia of the cord are PVID; congenital short gut; and intestinal atresia, ileal, and colonic atresias probably as a consequence of intrauterine vascular accidents such as volvulus, intussusception [9]. In rare instances, even fetal demise has been reported owing to rupture of umbilical cord that led to in utero bowel evisceration and rupture of umbilical vessels [10]. The present case presented with evisceration of gut via patent vitellointestinal duct and with reverse intussusception even in post neonatal period. This case has been described as a case of CHUC because of history of swelling over umbilicus and a small umbilical defect; however, it is difficult to rule out the omphalocele minor. By reporting this case, the authors aim to highlight the aspect of management of such a presentation. There are reports where the umbilical cord hernia has been overlooked at the time of birth and even clamped resulting in ischemia and injury of intestines [11]. Even meconium discharge from patent vitellointestinal duct in case of CHUC has also been reported as in the index case [7]. Gasparella et al. reported a case of an intestinal laceration due to clamping of an unrecognized herniation of umbilical cord in a newborn [12]. Although in the index case, cord clamping had not resulted in injury of intestine but callous umbilical cord clamping have been observed in literature [13].

Conclusion

The congenital hernia of umbilical cord with patent vitellointestinal duct is a rare abdominal wall defect which can present beyond neonatal period with evisceration of gut. A high index of suspicion should be kept by the first attending clinician to avoid a delay in management as happened in the index case. Every pediatrician should be made aware of such types of umbilical lesions and an early referral for a pediatric surgical consultation is the key to avoid such a delayed presentation with its complications. However, when faced with a case like the present one, an out of box solution may be required to avoid the further complication.