Omphalocele | Diagnosis & Treatments
How is omphalocele diagnosed?
Omphaloceles are virtually all detected before birth during routine ultrasounds. A fetal MRI and heart ultrasound (echocardiogram) can also be used to detect other associated conditions.
How is omphalocele treated?
Treatment for omphalocele depends on the size and severity of your child’s omphalocele. For small omphalocele, the surgical repair is typically done within a day or two of birth, returning your baby's organs to the abdomen and closing the opening in the abdominal wall. For large omphalocele, surgical repair is done in stages and may include the following:
- Because the abdomen may be small and underdeveloped, it may not be able to hold all of the organs at once. In that case, the exposed organs are gradually moved back into the abdomen over weeks by gradual compression. This is called “paint and wait.”
- The abdominal wall is closed surgically once the organs have been returned to the abdominal cavity.
- If the abdominal cavity is small and underdeveloped, your baby may have difficulty breathing as organs are returned to the abdomen. Your baby will probably receive help breathing from a mechanical ventilator during this process. Many babies need a feeding tube to supplement their nutrition, either short or long term.
How we care for omphalocele
At Boston Children’s Hospital, the Maternal Fetal Care Center and the Department of Surgery work together develop a comprehensive treatment plan for your child. The outcome can range from no future impact to significant impact if the baby is born premature or with other associated conditions. Collaborating with other Boston Children’s clinical departments, we will work with you to ensure your child is on a path to recovery.
