Omphalocele: a multidisciplinary approach is of paramount importance

ABSTRACT

Background. Omphalocele is one of the most common congenital abdominal wall defects, characterized by the absence of abdominal muscles, fascia, and skin and requiring urgent surgical intervention. The characteristic ultrasound appearance includes a midline defect with herniation of the abdominal contents at the base of the umbilical cord after the 12^th week of gestation.
Case presentation. In the reported case, the omphalocele was diagnosed at 17^th week of gestation. The karyotype showed a 46XX karyotype and after careful counseling, the woman decided to continue the pregnancy. The pregnancy was carried to term at 39^th week of pregnancy by elective cesarean section.
The treatment to which the newborn was submitted was in two stages: the first involved suspension of the hernia sac with mercurochrome solution; the second involved an operative approach with reduction of the hernia sac. The child was followed until the age of two years.
Conclusions. The multidisciplinary approach in the management of omphalocele and conversation with parents from detection of a malformation through the potential of associated anomalies to the operative and non-operative procedures available to solve the condition are of utmost importance in such cases.