Giant omphaloceles: surgical management and perinatal outcomes.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to describe the current management and outcomes of infants with omphalocele.


METHODS
The medical records of all patients treated for omphalocele at a large children's hospital from January, 2003-February, 2014 were reviewed. Patients were classified as having an isolated omphalocele or omphalocele with minor or major associated anomalies. Prenatal data collected included fetal magnetic resonance imaging-based observed-to-expected total fetal lung volumes. Giant omphalocele (GO) was defined as >50% of liver in the omphalocele sac.


RESULTS
Of 95 patients, 59 presented prenatally and had comprehensive fetal center evaluation. Of 82 live-born infants, 21 had chromosomal and 25 had major associated anomalies. No live-born baby with an isolated defect (n = 19) died, whereas mortality was 41% and 17% for those with major and minor anomalies, respectively (P = 0.006). Infants with major anomalies had significantly longer median length of intubation (36 versus 0 versus 0 d; P = 0.04) and hospital stay (157 versus 28.5 versus 18 d; P < 0.001) compared with those with minor or no anomalies. Of 40 infants with GO, the majority (85%) were managed surgically by delayed closure with a median age at repair of 10 mo (range, 3.4-23.6 mo). Six-month survival was 80%. None of the delayed repair patients required a later operative revision, whereas 2 of 5 with early repair did.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of associated anomalies is the strongest predictor of morbidity and mortality in fetuses or neonates with omphalocele. In patients with GO, delayed closure is associated with good outcomes, but larger, prospective studies comparing delayed to early closure are needed to determine the optimal timing of repair.
Texas Children's Fetal Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas.
Adesola C
AC
Akinkuotu
Texas Children's Fetal Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas.
Fariha
F
Sheikh
Texas Children's Fetal Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas; Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Oluyinka O
OO
Olutoye
Texas Children's Fetal Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas; Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Timothy C
TC
Lee
Texas Children's Fetal Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Cariciolo J
CJ
Fernandes
Texas Children's Fetal Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Stephen E
SE
Welty
Texas Children's Fetal Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Nancy A
NA
Ayres
Texas Children's Fetal Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas; Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. Electronic address: dcass@bcm.edu.
Darrell L
DL
Cass
D006554:Hernia, Umbilical / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology
Giant omphalocele; Prenatal diagnosis; Surgical outcomes