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Omphalocele

An omphalocele is a birth defect where abdominal organs rupture through the belly button and protrude outside of the body. It occurs when the hole that is normally present during fetal development fails to close. Organs that can be affected include the intestines and stomach. While the cause is unknown, younger mothers are more at risk. About 25-40% of babies with omphaloceles have additional birth defects. The defect can be surgically corrected by placing the organs back in the abdomen and closing the abdominal wall.

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702 views1 page

Omphalocele

An omphalocele is a birth defect where abdominal organs rupture through the belly button and protrude outside of the body. It occurs when the hole that is normally present during fetal development fails to close. Organs that can be affected include the intestines and stomach. While the cause is unknown, younger mothers are more at risk. About 25-40% of babies with omphaloceles have additional birth defects. The defect can be surgically corrected by placing the organs back in the abdomen and closing the abdominal wall.

Uploaded by

Affannul Hakim
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Omphalocele

What is omphalocele?
An omphalocele is a birth defect that occurs when the abdominal contents (such as the intestines or
stomach) herniate (rupture or protrude) through the umbilicus (belly button or navel) and are exposed
on the outside of the body. Normally, a small hole is present in the abdomen during a babys
development; this hole usually closes early in pregnancy. When this hole fails to close during pregnancy,
an omphalocele is the result. The amount of abdominal contents that are exposed outside the body may
range from a small section of the intestines to all of the intestines and the stomach.

An omphalocele is similar to another birth defect called gastroschisis. Patients with an omphalocele
usually have a peritoneal sac (thin layer of tissue) covering the exposed organs. Patients with
gastroschisis do not have this protective covering; in addition, the abdominal opening in gastroschisis is
on one side of the umbilicus.
Approximately 1 out of every 5,000 babies born each year have an omphalocele.
What causes omphaloceles?
Currently, the exact cause of omphaloceles is not known. Younger mothers (under the age of 20) are
more likely to have a child with an omphalocele.
Approximately 25 40% of babies with omphaloceles have additional birth defects. The birth defects
most commonly associated with omphaloceles include genetic conditions, congenital diaphragmatic
hernia (an opening in the muscle used for breathing), and cardiac (heart) defects.
How are omphaloceles treated?
Omphalocele can be surgically corrected. The surgeon will place the exposed abdominal contents back
into the abdomen and close the opening in the abdominal wall. Your childs doctor(s) will discuss
appropriate treatment options with you.
For more information
Childrens Memorial Hospital (Chicago) - http://www.childrensmemorial.org/depts/fetalhealth/omphalocele.asp
MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000994.htm

Sources: Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, MedlinePlus

Omphalocele
Diagram courtesy of the National Library of Medicine

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