Onphalocele corresponds to a malformation of the baby’s abdominal wall, which is usually identified even during pregnancy and is characterized by the presence of organs, such as the intestine, liver or spleen, outside the abdominal cavity and covered by a thin membrane.
This congenital disease is usually identified between the eighth and twelfth weeks of pregnancy by imaging tests performed by the obstetrician during prenatal care, but can also be seen only after birth.
- Early diagnosis of this problem is very important to prepare the medical team for delivery.
- As the baby may need surgery shortly after birth to place the organ in the right place.
- Thus avoiding serious complications.
The causes of the onphalocele are not yet well established, but this may occur due to genetic alteration.
Factors related to the pregnant woman’s environment, which may include contact with toxic substances, consumption of alcoholic beverages, use of cigarettes, or ingestion of medications without the doctor’s advice, also appear to increase the risk of the baby being born with onphalocele.
Onphalocele can still be diagnosed during pregnancy, especially between 8 and 12th pregnancy, by ultrasound; after birth, the onphalocele can be perceived by a physical examination performed by the doctor, in which the presence of organs outside the abdominal cavity is observed.
After evaluating the extent of the onphalocele, your doctor determines the best treatment and, in most cases, surgery is done shortly after birth; when the onphalocele is very extensive, your doctor may advise you to perform stage surgery.
In addition, your doctor may perform other tests, such as echocardiograms, x-rays, and blood tests, for example, to look for other conditions, such as genetic changes, diaphragmatic hernia, and heart defects, for example, that are often more common.babies with other malformations.
Treatment is done by surgery, which can be done shortly after birth or after a few weeks or months depending on the extent of the onphalocele, other health problems your baby may have, and your doctor’s prognosis It is important that treatment is done as soon as possible to avoid possible complications, such as death of intestinal tissue and infection.
Thus, when it is a smaller onphalocele, that is, when only part of the intestine is outside the abdominal cavity, surgery is performed shortly after birth and aims to place the organ in the right place and then close the abdominal cavity.In the case of a larger onphalocele, i.e. when in addition to the intestine, other organs, such as the liver or spleen, are outside the abdominal cavity, surgery may be performed in stages so as not to interfere with the baby’s development.
In addition to surgical removal, your doctor may recommend that an antibiotic ointment be applied, with caution, to the bag that coats exposed organs, to reduce the risk of infections, especially when surgery is not performed shortly after birth or when it is performed.for bets.