Omphalocele: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Omphalocele is also known as umbilical hernia, herniation, and hernia.

Omphalocele is an abdominal wall defect noted in babies. In this condition, a hole (hernia) is present in the muscles and skin of the child’s belly button. It is a birth defect where the stomach, liver or intestines of the baby protrude outside the body through the hole. This can not be known before birth but can only be seen after the baby is born. The size of the omphalocele varies from very small to very large.

There are no separate symptoms of omphalocele. It is noted after the baby is born with an open hole and organs poking out from it. There may be some other complications, but that could be caused due to other issues.

Omphalocele treatment for babies consists of 2 main options. The babies could be surgically operated on or “paint and wait” method. In the latter method, the sac which covers the omphalocele is “painted” or coated with antibiotic cream. Over time, skin starts to grow over the sac and cover it up.

Babies with omphalocele can be known from ultra sonography tests which show images of the hole and abdominal organs protruding out from it. In order to determine the severity of the fetus's omphalocele, a thorough evaluation is needed which include an ultrasound, a fetal echocardiogram and amniocentesis.

The treatment of the baby with omphalocele begins after birth. There are two treatment options, surgery and “paint and wait”. The baby needs to undergo surgery soon after birth when the omphalocele size is small and can be operated on. This is done to close the abdominal wall and send the organs back to the abdomen into the body. If the omphalocele is too large to be closed by a surgery, then a covering called a silo is placed over the abdominal organs. Then slowly the organs are squeezed through the silo into the opening and returned to the body. An antibiotic cream is then applied on this covering sac and let dry for new cells to develop. This process is called the paint and wait method of treatment.

Babies with omphalocele are eligible for the treatment. It is observed only when the babies are born. So, after birth, the babies are eligible for the treatment of omphalocele.

Babies with normal body and muscles which are developed properly and no abdominal wall defect or hole with protruding organs are not eligible for the treatment.

Usually babies do not experience any side effect of this condition. But they may face bowel obstruction or issues. This is because their abdomen has been operated on and could leave behind a scar tissue or kink in the loop of the bowel.

The baby may need an intravenous (IV) line for transfer of fluids. They can be breast fed or given formula so that they gain nutrition and recover soon. The baby is also given medicines to soothe any pain.

Recovery from omphalocele treatment takes time, specially as the treatments are done on new borns. They may take some four weeks to eight weeks to recover from surgical operation. And treatment by sac method takes around two or three months. During this time, until the babies recover, the babies are kept in the hospitals under intensive care unit (ICU).

Omphalocele treatment is an expensive one. For surgeries, silo method and intensive care till recovery, patients may incur around Rs 50,00,000- Rs. 80,00,000.

Most of the time, surgeries bring positive result and the treatment is permanent. But, how the children will response depends on the severity of the condition. They may face some bowel problems bloated stomach, bilious or green vomiting and lack of appetite.