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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 outside the belly in a thin sac. organs come out through an opening at the base of the umbilical cord.

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 repair 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 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 unconscious and unable to feel pain during the operation.

The surgeon will make a cut to remove the sac around the organs. The intestine is 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.

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

Your baby should be born 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.

After surgery, your baby will receive care in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. Your baby will be placed in a special bed called an isolette. This bed has an incubator to keep your baby warm.

Your baby may need to be on a breathing machine until organ swelling has decreased and the size of their belly area has increased.

Other treatments your baby will probably need after surgery are:

• Antibiotics
• Fluids and nutrients are given through a vein
• Oxygen
• Pain medicines as needed
• An NG tube placed through the nose into the stomach to drain the stomach to keep it empty

Feedings are started through the NG tube as soon as your baby’s bowel starts functioning after surgery. Feedings by mouth will start very slowly. Your baby may eat slowly and may need feeding therapy and a lot of encouragement.

The total length of time in the hospital will vary. It will depend on whether there are other birth defects and complications. You may be able to take your baby home once they are taking all foods by mouth and gaining weight.

After you go home, your child may develop a bowel obstruction (a block in the intestines) due to a kink or scar in the intestines.

Most of the time, surgery can correct omphalocele. How well your baby does depends on how much damage or loss of intestine there was, and whether your child has other birth defects.

Ledbetter DJ. Gastroschisis and omphalocele. Surgical Clinics of North America. April 2006;86(2).

Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.