Omphalocele repair

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Omphalocele repair - series

Overview

Recovery

Risks

Omphalocele repair

Expectations after surgery:

This defect can be corrected with surgery in most cases. The outcome depends on the amount of damage to or loss of intestine. Omphalocele is often associated with other congenital (present from before birth) defects that may influence the patient's prognosis.

Convalescence:

The infant will be cared for postoperatively in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The patient is placed in an isolette (incubator) to provide warmth and prevent infection. Oxygen is given and mechanical ventilation is often required. Intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and pain medications will be given as needed.

An NG tube will be in place to keep the stomach emptied of gastric secretions. Feedings are started by nasogastric tube as soon as bowel function resumes. Feedings are started very slowly, and often infants are reluctant to feed. These babies may need feeding therapy and lots of encouragement.

Review Date: 10/25/2004
Reviewed By: Hebe Molmenti, M.D., Ph.D., Private Practice specializing in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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