Omphalocele

Causes and Risks:
An omphalocele is a relatively frequent abnormality of the newborn that occurs in approximately 1 out of 5,000 births. The intestines can be easily visualized through the thin translucent peritoneal membrane.

Prevention:
unknown

Symptoms:
A defect in the abdominal wall at the navel through which the abdominal contents protrude indicates an omphalocele.

Signs and Tests:
Physical examination of the infant is usually sufficient for your health care provider to diagnose this condition. Testing is usually not necessary.

Treatment:
An omphalocele is considered a surgical emergency. The primary considerations are infection and drying of the contents. The abdominal cavity may be small and unable to contain the external portion of the gut. First, the omphalocele is covered with a sack of biocompatible synthetic material, suturing it to the margins of the abdominal defect and slowly over time decreasing the volume of the synthetic sack covering the omphalocele. This causes the abdomen to stretch. When the omphalocele can comfortably fit within the abdominal cavity, the synthetic material is removed and the abdomen is closed.

Prognosis:
Complete recovery is expected. Frequently, omphalocele can be associated with other birth defects, and the prognosis then depends on these conditions.

Complications:
  • intestinal infection
  • death of the intestinal tissue related to dryness and trauma to the unprotected intestine



Call Your Healthcare Provider:
This problem is diagnosed and repaired in the hospital at birth. After returning home, call your health care provider if the infant develops any of these symptoms: