Omphalocele repair

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This defect can be corrected with surgery in most cases. The outcome depends on the amount of damage to or loss of intestine, and whether there are additional birth defects. Omphalocele is frequently associated with other birth defects, such as heart defects, imperforate anus, urinary problems, and some genetic conditions.

After surgery, the infant will be cared for in a hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The infant will be placed in a machine called an isolette (incubator) to provide warmth and prevent infection.

Additional treatments after surgery usually include:

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• Oxygen
• Breathing assistance (mechanical ventilation)
• Intravenous fluids
• Antibiotics as needed
• Pain medications as needed

A tube placed through the nose into the stomach will keep the stomach empty. Feedings are started through this tube as soon as bowel function starts again. Feedings are started very slowly, and often infants are slow to feed. The baby may need feeding therapy and lots of encouragement.

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).