Omphalocele repair

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Omphalocele repair is surgery to repair a birth defect in the wall of the belly (abdomen) in which all or parts of the small intestine, liver, and large intestine stick out of the belly button (navel) in a thin sac.

Other birth defects are also present.

See also:

• Gastoschisis (a similar defect)
• Gastroschisis repair
• Omphalocele

The goal of surgery is to place the abdominal organs back into the baby’s body and fix the defect in the wall of the belly, if possible. Immediately after birth:

• The baby's sac of exposed organs is covered with warm, moist, sterile dressings or a sterile plastic bag.
• A nasogastric (NG) tube is inserted through the baby's nose or mouth into the stomach to keep the stomach empty. This prevents the baby from choking and breathing stomach contents into the lungs.

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For infants with small omphaloceles, the surgery is done soon after birth.

If the infant has a large omphalocele, the surgery is usually delayed. The intestines and other organs can be gently squeezed into the belly with the help of a plastic pouch called a silo. This can take a few weeks. Surgery will be done right away if the sac around the organs breaks.

Before surgery, your baby will receive general anesthesia. This will make your baby asleep and pain-free during the operation.

The surgeon will make a cut to remove the sac around the organs. The intestines will be examined closely for signs of damage or other birth defects. Unhealthy parts will be removed, and the healthy edges will be stitched together.

More surgery may be needed later to repair the muscles in your baby's belly.

Omphalocele is a life-threatening condition that needs immediate treatment. It needs to be treated soon after birth so that the baby’s organs can develop and be protected in the belly.

Omphalocele is usually seen on ultrasound before the baby is born. After it is found, your baby will be followed very closely to make sure he or she is growing.

Your baby should be delivered at a hospital that has a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and a pediatric surgeon. A NICU is set up to handle emergencies that occur at birth. A pediatric surgeon has special training in surgery for babies and children.