• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Omphalocele repair

• Overview
• Recovery
• Risks

Definition:

Omphalocele repair is surgery to repair a birth defect in which all or parts of the small intestine, liver, and large intestine stick outside of the abdomen.

This procedure is similar to gastroschisis repair .

Description:

Omphalocele is frequently associated with other birth defects, such as heart defects, imperforate anus , urinary problems, and some genetic conditions. It is frequently diagnosed before birth by ultrasound examinations.

The goal of surgery is to place the abdominal organs back into the body and to repair the defect, if possible. If this can not be done immediately, a sac is created to hold and protect the intestines, which are slowly pushed back into the abdomen over a few weeks.

Immediately after delivery, the baby's exposed organs are covered with warm, moist, sterile dressings. A nasogastric (NG) tube is inserted through the baby's nose or mouth into the stomach to keep the stomach empty. This prevents choking and breathing stomach contents into the lungs ( aspiration ).

The procedure is done under general anesthesia, which means the baby is asleep and feels no pain during surgery. The surgeon makes a cut to remove the sac surrounding the organs. The intestine is examined closely for signs of damage or additional birth defects. Damaged or defective parts are removed and the healthy edges are stitched together.

A tube may be inserted into the stomach ( gastrostomy tube ) and out through the skin.

Surgery may be necessary to repair the abdominal muscles at a later time.

Placing the organs back into position increases the pressure within the abdominal cavity and can cause breathing difficulties. Breathing help (ventilator) may be needed until swelling of the organs has decreased and the size of the abdominal area has increased.

Indications:

Omphalocele is a life-threatening event requiring immediate intervention. The infant may be born underweight ( small for gestational age ) due to stress from this condition before birth.

• Review Date: 10/16/2006
• Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.