Omphalocele or omphalocele is a birth disorder characterized by the protrusion of organs which exists in the cavity the baby's stomach, such as the stomach, intestines, and liver, through the navel. Omphalocele can terdetection since pregnancy or only seen when the baby is born.
Omphalocele is a rare birth defect. The results showed omphalocele occurs in 1 in 5,000-10,000 births. Omphalocele is often confused with gastroschisis. In fact, the two are different disorders.
The difference is in omphalocele, the organ that comes out is covered by a membrane; whereas in gastroschisis, the organs that come out are not covered by a membrane membrane. Omphalocele Symptoms and Signs
Omphalocele is easy to recognize because the symptoms are quite clear, namely the discharge of organs in the abdomen through the navel hole. The organ that comes out of the navel is covered by a protective membrane.
In mild omphalocele, the hole that is formed is not too big, so that only one organ or only part of the intestines comes out. However, in severe cases where the hole that is formed is large enough, the intestines, liver, bladder, stomach, and testicles can also come out.
When to go to the doctor
If you are pregnant, check your pregnancy regularly with your gynecologist. In addition to maintaining a healthy pregnancy, prenatal care can detect whether the fetus has an omphalocele.
If the fetus is known to have omphalocele, the doctor will recommend that pregnancy checks be carried out more often. The aim is to monitor the development of the fetus and to plan a delivery method that is suitable for the condition of the pregnant mother and fetus.
Causes of Omphalocele
Omphalocele occurs due to abnormalities in fetal development. During fetal development, precisely at 6-10 weeks of gestation, the intestines and internal organs, such as the liver, bladder, stomach, ovaries, or testes, protrude into the navel.
The protruding organ will re-enter the abdominal cavity when the gestational age enters the 11th week. However, in infants with omphalocele, the intestines and these organs do not re-enter the abdominal cavity.
It is not known exactly what causes omphalocele. However, it is suspected that this condition is related to changes (mutations) or abnormalities in genes or chromosomes.
Omphalocele risk factors
Although the exact cause of omphalocele is not known, there are several factors that are known to increase the risk of developing this condition, namely:
- The habit of consuming excessive amounts of alcohol during pregnancy.
- The habit of smoking more than 1 pack a day during pregnancy.
- Using SSRI antidepressants (selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors) during pregnancy.
- Experiencing obesity during pregnancy.
Babies with omphalocele also often have genetic disorders, such as Turner syndrome, Patau syndrome (trisomy 13), Edward's syndrome (trisomy 18), Down's syndrome (trisomy 21), Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, and congenital abnormalities of the spine, heart, and bones. digestive organs.
Omphalocele diagnosis
Omphalocele can be detected by ultrasound of pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. If an omphalocele is detected, the doctor will perform a series of examinations on the fetus, such as: fetal echo, namely ultrasound to see the function and picture of the heart in the fetus, ultrasound to see the kidneys, and genetic testing.
In newborns, an omphalocele will be visible on physical examination. If the baby is born with an omphalocele, the doctor will also perform supporting examinations, such as X-rays, to see if there are abnormalities in other organs.
Omphalocele Treatment
Omphalocele is treated with surgery. The timing of this operation depends on the baby's condition and the severity of the omphalocele.
In mild omphalocele, surgery will be performed soon after the baby is born. This operation aims to insert the organ back into the abdominal cavity.
If the omphalocele is severe, the organ will be gradually inserted into the abdomen. This is because the baby's abdominal cavity is still in its infancy.
While waiting for the baby's abdominal cavity to develop, the doctor will perform the following treatments:
- Placing the baby in the incubator to keep him warm.
- Install a respirator or ventilator.
- Give fluids and food through an IV.
- Insert a nasogastric tube to suck fluid and air from the abdominal cavity.
- Applying an antibiotic cream to the membrane that lines the organs outside the stomach to prevent bacterial infection.
- Covers the expelling organs with a special protective barrier to prevent dehydration.
After the baby's abdominal cavity has developed, surgery will be carried out again to insert the organ that came out, then the hole where the organ came out will be closed and stitched.
Omphalocele Complications
Omphalocele can cause a number of complications, both before and after the baby is born. These complications include:
- Developmental delay.
- Difficulty eating and breathing.
- Infection due to rupture of the protective membranes of organs.
- Death of tissue in organs that come out of the navel due to lack of blood supply.
Omphalocele Prevention
To reduce the risk of omphalocele, pregnant women are advised to routinely have a pregnancy check-up with a gynecologist, adopt a healthy lifestyle, and not take any medication without consulting a doctor first.
Some steps that can be taken to implement a healthy lifestyle for omphalocele prevention are:
- Eat a balanced nutritious diet.
- Take vitamins or supplements prescribed by your doctor, including folic acid.
- Do not smoke and consume alcoholic beverages.
- Maintain ideal body weight.
