Omphalocele

• ● A birth defect of the abdominal wall where the neonate’s intestines, liver, or other abdominal organs stick outside of the belly through the umbilicus.

  ● It is usually the intestines that protrude. This occur as a result of problem in the GI tract problem during intrauterine life.

  ● The organs are covered in a thin, nearly transparent sac that hardly ever is open or broken.

  ● The survival rate for omphalocele is about 90%, only if omphalocele is present. But it may be associated with chromosomal abnormalities and other congenital disorders.
• MANAGEMENT

  ● Repair is performed in the following ways if omphalocele is small and involves only the intestines:

  1. Right after birth, a silo plastic pouch or a mesh-type of material is used to contain the organs.

  2. The pouch or mesh is then attached to the baby’s abdomen.
• 3. Every 2 to 3 days, the pouch or mesh is gently tightened to push the organs back inside.

  ● If omphalocele is big and involves other organs including liver, an open surgery is needed to place back the protruded organs into its normal anatomic position. The surgeon will then close the opening in the abdominal wall.

  ○ In this case of omphalocele, the most common concern is the risk of infection. So, nurses must take measures to prevent such complications.