What is the difference between gastroschisis and omphalocele?
Omphalocele may sometimes be mistaken for gastroschisis, another congenital abdominal wall defect. Omphalocele differs from gastroschisis in that the protruding organs are contained within a thin covered sac, while in gastroschisis the bowel is free floating.
Which is more common gastroschisis or omphalocele?
Gastroschisis occurs more often than omphalocele. But both conditions are considered rare. The National Institutes of Health reports that about 2 to 6 out of 10,000 newborns in the United States are born with gastroschisis. Two to 2.5 newborns out of 10,000 have omphalocele.
What does omphalocele mean?
Omphalocele (pronounced uhm-fa-lo-seal) is a birth defect of the abdominal (belly) wall. The infant’s intestines, liver, or other organs stick outside of the belly through the belly button. The organs are covered in a thin, nearly transparent sac that hardly ever is open or broken.
How is omphalocele treated?
Extremely large omphaloceles are not surgically repaired until the baby grows. They are treated by placing painless drying agents on the omphalocele membrane. Babies may stay in the hospital anywhere from one week to months after surgery, depending on the size of the defect.
Can omphalocele Correct itself in the womb?
Small omphaloceles are easily repaired with a simple operation and a short stay in the nursery. Large omphaloceles may require staged repair over many weeks in the nursery. Giant omphaloceles require complex reconstruction over weeks, months, or even years.
What are the long term effects of gastroschisis?
The most common complication that children with gastroschisis experience is a slow growth rate57, acid reflux which may include frequent vomiting, and malabsorption. This typically improves over time; an exception is with children who have Short Bowel Syndrome as a result of lost bowel.
Is omphalocele compatible with life?
Most babies with omphaloceles do well. The survival rate is over 90 percent if the baby’s only issue is an omphalocele. The survival rate for babies who have an omphalocele and serious problems with other organs is about 70 percent.