What is an omphalocele?
An omphalocele is a congenital (present at birth) abnormality in which abdominal organs protrude through an opening in muscles in the area of the umbilical cord. These organs are covered by a transparent membrane called the peritoneum. The omphalocele may be small, with only a portion of the intestine protruding outside the abdominal cavity, or large, with most of the abdominal organs (including intestine, liver, and spleen) outside the abdominal cavity. More than two-thirds of babies with omphalocele have abnormalities of other organs or body parts, most commonly the spine, digestive system, heart, urinary system and limbs.
Babies born with an omphalocele frequently have other complications including:
- Poor lung development
- Intestines that are slow to handle food
- Heart malformations (20 percent)
- Beckwith-Wiedeman Syndrome (a condition typified by a large tongue, high insulin and low blood sugar)
- Chromosomal abnormalities
What causes an omphalocele?
It is not known what causes an omphalocele or whether the mother can do anything during pregnancy to prevent it. Between the 6th and the 10th weeks of pregnancy, the intestines actually project into the umbilical cord as they are growing. By the 11th week of development, the intestines should return to the abdomen. When this fails to happen, an omphalocele occurs.
How is an omphalocele diagnosed?
An omphalocele is often detected during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy using an ultrasound. Once discovered, a fetal echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) is frequently ordered to check for heart abnormalities before the baby is born.
Once born, the doctor will note the omphalocele and order x-rays to evaluate abnormalities of other organs or body parts.
How is an omphalocele treated?
Treatment for an omphalocele will depend on many things including the extent of the condition, the baby's age and overall health, the baby's tolerance for medications and parental preferences for treatment.
In the case of a small omphalocele, an operation will be done immediately to return the organs to the abdomen and to close up the opening in the abdominal wall to prevent infection or any tissue damage.
For a large omphalocele involving numerous organs, the surgery is often done in stages, moving the organs back into the baby's body over a period of several days. The need for the surgery to be done in stages is due to the baby's abdomen being too small and underdeveloped to hold all of the organs at once. During this time, the exposed organs are protected by a sterile, protective sheeting to prevent the risk of infection. Babies with omphalocele who have underdeveloped abdominal cavities often have breathing difficulties and may require the assistance of a ventilator until they can breathe on their own.
What is the prognosis for an omphalocele?
If an omphalocele is the only obvious health problem that an infant has, full recovery from it is frequently expected. However, since an omphalocele is often associated with other birth defects, the prognosis depends on these conditions. Consult your baby's physician regarding the prognosis for your baby.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facts about Omphalocele Accessed 10/17/2013.
- Nakayama DK. Omphalocele. In: Nakayama DK, Bose CL, Chescheir NC, Valley RD, eds. Critical care of the surgical newborn. Armonk, N.Y.: Futura, 1997:277–88. Accessed 10/17/2013.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 6/11/2013...#10030