Emergency treatment of a ruptured huge omphalocele by simple suture of its membrane

Abstract

Background: The rupture of a huge omphalocele is an emergency that threatens the newborn baby's life. It constitutes a therapeutical concern in the absence of prosthesis especially in developing countries.Methods: We are reporting herein the case of a newborn baby that we managed in emergency successfully thanks to a simple treatment.Results: It was a huge omphalocele, ruptured during delivery, in a male newborn baby. We conducted a simple and conservative surgical treatment without prosthesis, which consisted of reconstruction of the omphalocele's membrane by closing it with absorbable suture materials. The suture of the omphalocele's membrane was followed by treatment with the Grob's method. This treatment saved the newborn baby's life. The total skinning was obtained after 3 months.Conclusions: In case of rupture of huge omphalocele in absence of prosthesis, it is better to suture the membrane, and continue the treatment according to the Grob's method; the residual disembowelment can be repaired later. © 2012 Akakpo-Numado et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.