Omphalocele repair

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

Description of Procedure

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.

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.

Risks of Omphalocele repair

Risks for any anesthesia are:

• Allergic reactions to medicines
• Breathing problems

Risks for any surgery are:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Blood clots

Additional risks of omphalocele repair are:

• Breathing problems. The baby may need a breathing tube and breathing machine for a few days or weeks after surgery.
• Inflammation of the tissue that lines the wall of the abdomen and covers the abdominal organs
• Organ injury
• Problems with digestion and absorbing nutrients from food, if a baby has a lot of damage to the small bowel

Omphalocele repair - series

Review Date: 1/24/2011
Reviewed By: Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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