Management of Omphalocele with Intestinal Perforation: A Case Report

Congenital abdominal wall defects present a huge challenge for pediatric surgeons in the care of neonates. The risks of infection and restriction of blood supply to abdominal organs challenge the surgeons’ capacity to restore the stability of the patient. Omphalocele is a defect of the abdominal wall where the organs protrude enclosed within a membranous sac. Carrying a mortality rate of 34%, an incidence of 1 in 4,000 live births and being more common in males than in females [1,2] makes it more difficult for the surgeon to manage complications. There are few reports of intestinal perforation in patients with omphalocele [3]. We report the case of a 2-days-old boy who presented with omphalocele that required surgical excision of the membranous sac for management of intestinal perforation as a life saving procedure.