What Are the Causes of an Omphalocele?

An omphalocele is a obvious birth defect that is diagnosed during pregnancy, and then treated immediately after birth. As scientists become more proficient at gene mapping, the genes that cause an omphalocele are becoming more evident. But more research needs to be done before any pre-birth treatment can be developed.

Identification

• An omphalopcele is a birth defect that causes the internal organs of a new-born baby to be pushed out of the stomach, and they wind up in a clear sac called a peritoneum. In some instances the omphalocele may be minor and only show a small part of the intestines, but in other more severe cases the intestines are completely exposed along with other organs such as the liver and kidneys. The protrusion happens at the navel, and an omphalocele can also be referred to as a type of hernia because the organs have been pushed through an opening that was not designated for them.

General Cause

• An omphalocele begins to develop around the middle of the first trimester of pregnancy. At that point the intestines of the fetus begin to develop out of the navel and into the umbilical chord. In the proper development of a normal pregnancy, this protrusion recedes at the end of the first trimester and the child continues on with normal body development. With an omphalocele, the intestines remain in the umbilical chord, and are eventually covered with the peritoneum during the course of the pregnancy. Once an omphalocele begins, it is difficult to predict how serious it will be and there is little a doctor can do to stop it.

Chromosomes

• It is believed that one of the reasons for an omphalocele is a chromosomal birth defect that does not allow the abdominal muscles to properly develop while the child is in the womb. These weakened muscles are unable to bring the intestines in from the umbilical chord during development, and this results in an omphalocele. According to the New York Times, these chromosomal defects can also be responsible for other birth defects such as an improperly developed heart.

Risk Factors

• According to the University of Virgina, there is only a 1 percent chance of an omphalocele happening in future pregnancies between the same parents as long as the omphalocele is the only birth defect in a first born child. If either parent has a family history of an omphalocele occurring, then the chances of an omaphalocele happening again with those same two parents is higher. However it is difficult to say how much higher with any degree of accuracy. More than 50 percent of babies born with an omphalocele are also born with other birth defects. These other defects are most commonly associated with the spine, the digestive system and the heart.

Prognisis

• For babies with only an omphalocele, the prognosis through surgery is promising. For a minor omphalocele, surgery would be done immediately to put the protruding organs back in place and close up the area to prevent infection. Larger ompahloceles are repaired over the course of a couple of weeks through various surgeries, and this is because the baby's abdominal cavity is underdeveloped and will need to adjust to accepting the replaced organs.

  For babies with other birth defects the prognosis depends on the defect, and what can be done to repair the defect at birth.