A newborn has evisceration of abdominal contents through a central abdominal wall defect. The bowel is covered by a thin translucent sac through which the umbilical cord inserts directly. Which statement is correct?

• A The defect is lateral to the umbilicus with no covering membrane
• B Immediate closure is always possible regardless of sac size
• C The condition is usually an isolated finding with low anomaly association
• D Associated congenital anomalies are present in about 50 percent of cases ✓

Explanation

The central defect covered by a peritoneal-amniotic sac with the cord inserting into it defines omphalocele. Because the gut returns to the coelomic cavity during embryogenesis, omphalocele carries a high rate of associated anomalies including cardiac defects and chromosomal syndromes, roughly 50 percent. Gastroschisis, the key distractor, is a paraumbilical defect to the right of the cord with no covering membrane and is usually isolated. Giant omphaloceles often require staged closure with a silastic silo rather than primary repair.

Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.