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Fetal & Pediatric Surgery (Expert Forum)
omphalocele
Answered by
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Questions in this forum are answered by pediatric and fetal surgeons from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. This forum is for questions and support about issues such as abdominal and thoracic surgery, minimally invasive surgery, oncologic surgery, trauma surgery, fetal surgery and surgery to treat congenital disorders and malformations.
omphalocele
by sausage836, Nov 07, 2009 04:06AM
I am a type 1 diabetic, who is 13 weeks pregnant I had a ultrasound which showed that I my baby has omphalocele, could you please explain exactly what this is and if it can be treated - thanks
Doctor's Answer
by Thane A Blinman, MD, FAAP, Nov 09, 2009 04:12PM
, Nov 09, 2009 04:12PM
Omphalocele is a failure of the abdominal wall to properly fuse together, leaving a membrane-covered hole in the adominal (abdominal) wall.
It CAN be treated after delivery. However, this disease often is accompanied by other defects (e.g. heart defects, moderate or severe lung disease, and other problems). In particular, there are a few syndromes that are rather severe that also have omphalocele as part of their pattern (e.g. cloacal exstrophy, pentalogy of Cantrell), and these can have a very poor prognosis. On the other hand, occasionally omphalocele is isolated and simple to repair.
Many of the problems can be anticipated with careful and close fetal monitoring with serial imaging (especially ultrasound and MRI), and you can get more specific information if you meet with a pediatric surgeon who can give you more specific advice.
Of course, it also may go without saying, but very careful and scrupulous control of your own nutrition and blood sugar would be one thing that you personally could contribute to the health of this fetus (and it is no small contribution!).
Best of luck...
It CAN be treated after delivery. However, this disease often is accompanied by other defects (e.g. heart defects, moderate or severe lung disease, and other problems). In particular, there are a few syndromes that are rather severe that also have omphalocele as part of their pattern (e.g. cloacal exstrophy, pentalogy of Cantrell), and these can have a very poor prognosis. On the other hand, occasionally omphalocele is isolated and simple to repair.
Many of the problems can be anticipated with careful and close fetal monitoring with serial imaging (especially ultrasound and MRI), and you can get more specific information if you meet with a pediatric surgeon who can give you more specific advice.
Of course, it also may go without saying, but very careful and scrupulous control of your own nutrition and blood sugar would be one thing that you personally could contribute to the health of this fetus (and it is no small contribution!).
Best of luck...
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