What is an Omphalocele?

An omphalocele is a congenital defect of the abdomen wall that is diagnosed and treated at birth. Surgery is required to correct the defect, and full recovery is expected.

Definition

• An omphalocele is a birth defect of the abdominal area. It's characterized by the abnormal growth of the intestines, liver and sometimes other organs outside of the abdomen. Various amounts of abdominal products gather at the base of the umbilical cord and form a clear sac.

About

• In normal prenatal development, the intestine grows outside of the abdomen and then rapidly returns to the abdomen. When the intestine fails to do this and remains outside, an omphalocele is present.

Treatment

• Surgery is the only way to treat an omphalocele. The sac is covered with synthetic material, and as it grows over the sac the contents are pushed back up into the abdomen. If the omphalocele is too large to be pushed back into an infant's small abdomen, the skin is allowed to grow over it and the problem can be corrected when the child is older and has more room in her abdomen.

Complications

• An omphalocele is diagnosed and usually treated at birth. Complications may arise, however, after returning home. Things to watch out for include: decreased bowel movements, changes in appetite, fever, greenish or yellow vomit and abnormal behavior changes.

Prognosis

• Complete recovery from an omphalocele after surgery can be expected. However, typically there are other congenital issues that are associated with omphalocele that should be closely monitored and treated to ensure an infant's health.