What Is an Omphalocele?
Omphalocele, also referred to as exomphalos, is a congenital disability of the belly. The baby’s liver, intestines, or other organs stick outside of the abdomen through the belly button. The organs usually are covered in a thin, almost transparent sac that is hardly ever open or broken. During the development of the baby, from the sixth week to the tenth week of pregnancy, the intestines grow longer and push out from the belly into the umbilical cord. By the period of the eleventh week of pregnancy, the intestines typically go back into the belly. If this process does not happen, an omphalocele occurs. The omphalocele can be small when only some of the intestines are outside of the abdomen, or it can be significant when many organs lie outside of the abdomen. This condition is then referred to as giant omphaloceles by healthcare providers.
Other complications that may be associated with omphalocele are:
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Babies born with an omphalocele may have other health problems due to the fact that a few or all of the organs of the abdomen may be sticking out of the belly. This further leads to the underdevelopment of the abdominal cavity, the space where the body holds all these organs. It will not allow the growth of this abdominal cavity to its usual standard size.
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Also, there is a risk of an infection, especially if a thin, nearly transparent sac covering the organs is broken.
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Sometimes, there is a possibility that an organ might get twisted or pinched, leading to a loss of blood flow that might damage the organ.
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Poor development of the lungs.
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Intestines handle food slowly.
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Malformation of the heart (20 percent).
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Beckwith-Weidemann syndrome - Genetic condition characterized by a large tongue, high insulin, and low blood sugar.
How Common Is Omphalocele?
Researchers estimate that one in every 4,200 children born in the United States suffers from omphalocele. It is also observed that these babies might also have other congenital disabilities such as heart and kidney defects, chromosomal abnormalities (abnormality of the structure carrying the gene), and neural tube defects (defect in the tube forming the brain and the spine).
What Causes Omphalocele?
The exact cause leading to omphalocele is not known. Some babies may have omphalocele due to a change or alteration in their genes or chromosomes. Omphalocele may also occur because of a combination of genetic and other factors, such as a mother who comes in contact with certain things in the environment, the food and drinks that the mother consumes, or due to the intake of certain medications during pregnancy.
What Are the Risk Factors of an Omphalocele?
Some risk factors that have been identified that may increase the risk of having a baby with omphalocele are-
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Alcohol and Tobacco - Women who had a regular consumption of alcohol or were heavy smokers were likelier to give birth to a baby with an omphalocele.
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Medications - Women who used selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) at the time of pregnancy were more likely to have a baby with omphalocele.
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Obesity - Obese women or women who were overweight before pregnancy were also likely to have a baby with omphalocele.
If you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, consult a healthcare provider about ways to increase the probability of having a healthy baby.
How Is Omphalocele Diagnosed?
The diagnosis of an omphalocele can be made during pregnancy or after the birth of the baby.
During pregnancy, there are several screening tests (prenatal tests) to check for congenital disabilities and other conditions during pregnancy. For example, an omphalocele might give an abnormal result for a blood or serum screening test, or it can be seen during an ultrasound examination (sound waves are used to produce a picture of the area to be examined) during the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
After the birth of the baby-In some cases, diagnosing an omphalocele might not be possible until a baby is born. An omphalocele is evident immediately after birth.
What Tests Are Required After Detecting an Omphalocele?
If an omphalocele has been detected when the baby is in the womb, the healthcare provider might recommend several other tests throughout the pregnancy. These may include-
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Blood Test - This is done to check alpha fetoproteins (AFP) levels. This protein is produced naturally in the baby’s liver and passes through the placenta into the mother’s blood. If the AFP levels are detected as high, the baby needs further evaluation.
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Ultrasound - Frequent ultrasounds help to check the growth of the baby. This also allows the healthcare provider to ensure that the covering over the organs remains intact.
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - MRI may be used to check for the baby’s other organs, such as the heart and the lungs.
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Amniocentesis - During this procedure, the healthcare provider removes fluid from inside the uterus, which is then used to check genetic abnormalities.
How Is an Omphalocele Treated?
The treatment of omphalocele in an infant depends on several factors. These include-
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The size of the omphalocele and the severity of the condition.
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The baby's gestational age (the week of pregnancy during which the baby was born).
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The baby’s likelihood of tolerating medications.
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The overall health of the baby.
In the case of a small omphalocele (only some portion of the intestine is outside the belly), surgery is performed soon after birth to return the intestine into the abdomen, and the opening in the abdominal wall is closed to prevent any infection or tissue damage. In the case of a giant omphalocele (many organs outside the belly), the surgery might be performed in stages. First, the organs that are exposed might be covered with a unique sterile protective material that helps to prevent infection, and slowly after a period of several days or weeks, the organs are moved back into the baby’s belly. Finally, the opening is closed when all the organs have been put back in the belly.
Conclusion:
An omphalocele is a birth defect, and the baby is born with it. In this condition, certain organs lay outside the abdomen or the belly instead of being inside. The treatment of omphalocele requires surgery to move back the organs inside, followed by closing the opening. For a small omphalocele, only one surgery will be required. However, in the case of a giant omphalocele, the repair may take several months. After the surgery, most babies live healthy life.
