Omphalocele

Omphalocele is a common type of congenital abdominal wall developmental malformation. It is a neonatal malformation caused by congenital underdevelopment of the abdominal wall, resulting in an abdominal wall defect around the umbilical cord, leading to protrusion of intra-abdominal organs. Because this condition is associated with chromosomal abnormalities, affected infants may also have malformations of other organs in addition to the omphalocele. The mortality rate is very high if this condition is not managed properly. The vast majority of affected infants require immediate surgery after birth; otherwise, due to local skin ulceration, necrosis, and infection, the infant is unlikely to survive. In a few cases, the membrane gradually undergoes fibrosis to form scar tissue, thereby protecting the protruding organs and avoiding early death. The mortality rate of this condition is related to the timing of treatment, and surgery should be performed as early as possible when conditions permit.