Abdominal Wall Defects:

Omphalocele vs. Gastroschisis

Tsega T.
Menelik II Medical and Health Science College

Updated 07/2023
 OBJECTIVES
• Compare and contrast omphalocele and gastroschisis
• Perform an appropriate preoperative evaluation
• Formulate an anesthetic plan including fluid
management and prevention of heat loss
• Identify when primary vs. staged closure is performed
• Describe the postoperative management
 GUT DEVELOPMENT
Primitive gut - Divided into 3 regions

Foregut- Pharynx, esophagus and stomach

Midgut- Small and large intestine

Hindgut- Colon and rectum

Abdominal wall- somatic and splanchnic layers of the cephalic

lateral and caudal folds

Failure in development of one of these folds can result in

anterior abdominal wall defects

 EMBRYOLOGY

• Gut in yolk sac 5-9 weeks gestation

• Gut returns to abdomen 9-11 weeks

 ETIOLOGY
OMPHALOCELE
• Failure of gut to return to the abdomen
• Peritoneal sac
• Umbilical cord attached
 LOCATION
OMPHALOCELE
• Epigastric
• Mid-abdominal
• Hypogastric
 SIZE
OMPHALOCELE GASTROSCHISIS
• < 4 cm (umbilical cord • 2-5 cm
herniation) • Vertical
• > 4 cm • Small and large intestine
• > 10 cm • Rarely liver
– Giant omphalocele
– Liver may be in sac (30-50%)
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
OMPHALOCELE GASTROSCHISIS
• 1:4000-7000 • 1:3000-8000
• Advanced maternal age • Young mothers (< 20 y.o.)
• Full-term • Smokers
• Congenital anomalies • Preterm
– ~50% • Low birth weight
• Chromosomal abnormalities • GI abnormalities
– ~20% – malrotation
– 13, 15, 18, and 21 – atresia
– volvulus
 OMPHALOCELE

• Greek- omphalos-navel, cele- hernia

• Absence abdominal wall fascia
• Herniation abdominal contents
• Eccentric displacement umbilical cord
• Small underdeveloped abdominal cavity
• Thin sac covering defect
OMPHALOCELE:
ASSOCIATED ABNORMALITIES

• Approximately 60% have 1 associated anomaly

– CVS - Congenital heart disease
– GI - Imperforate anus, malrotation
– GU - Bladder exstrophy
– Craniofacial - cleft palate
– Chromosomal – 13, 15, 18, and 21
 PREOPERATIVE EVALUATION

Inspect the protruding viscera, R/O torsion or angulation of bowel

Correct dehydration / hypovolemia / hypoglycemia

Evaluation respiratory system (Chest X-ray)

Cardiac evaluation (EKG, ECHO, especially in Omphalocele)

Temperature stabilization

Evaluation intravascular status

 MANAGEMENT

ANESTHETIC MANAGEMENT
 Airway
 Maintenance
 Monitors

SURGICAL PROCEDURE
 Reduction herniated viscera
 Closure of defect
 Cardio/respiratory function
 PREOPERATIVE CONCERNS

• Fluid resuscitation
• Heat loss
• Sepsis
• Trauma to intraabdominal organs
 FLUID RESUSCITATION
• Gastroschisis > omphalocele
• Loss of fluid secondary to peritonitis, edema, and third spacing
– Hypovolemia
– Hemoconcentration
– Metabolic acidosis
• Isotonic fluids (without glucose)
– 10-15 mL/kg/hr (may need 60-120 mL/kg/hr)
• Adequate resuscitation
– Heart rate and blood pressure
– Capillary refill
– Urine output (1-2 mL/kg/hr)
• Monitor electrolytes and acid-base balance
• Glucose should be administered in maintenance fluids
 HEAT LOSS

• Large surface area exposed

• Radiant warmer
• Cover defect with non-adherent dressing
– Warm saline gauze
• Quickly loses warmth and may promote cooling if not
constantly changed
– Bowel bag
 SEPSIS

Antibiotic may need to be started

 TRAUMA

• Incarceration at exit site

– Careful not to twist the bowel at the base
• Blunt injury to exposed bowel
• Place nasogastric tube to decompress the
stomach
 TIMING OF SURGERY
OMPHALOCELE
• Not emergent/urgent
• Preoperative evaluation
should include identifying:
– Congenital anomalies
• CVS and renal
– Chromosomal abnormalities
• Giant omphalocele
– Urgent
GASTROSCHISIS
• Emergent/urgent
• Preoperative evaluation
directed at:
– Volume status
– Electrolyte/Acid-base balance
INTRAOPERATIVE CONCERNS
• Airway
– “Full stomach”
– Rapid sequence induction
• Fluid management
– D5/D10 at maintenance
– Isotonic fluid 10-15 mL/kg/hr (may need much more)
• Prevent heat loss
– Warm operating room (270-290C)
– Warming blanket
– Fluid warmer
– Place plastic barriers on all sides of the patient
 INTRAOPERATIVE CONCERNS
• Intravenous access
– Adequate peripheral intravenous access for resuscitation
– Consider central venous catheter
• Large defects
• Repeated surgery
• Consider intraarterial catheter
– Blood sampling
– Associated anomalies
• Anesthetic management
– No one best anesthetic
– Avoid N2O
– Adequate muscle relaxation
 SURGICAL PROCEDURE
PRIMARY CLOSURE
Reduced complications
 Sepsis,sac dehiscence,prolonged ileus

Increased complication
 Hypotension,bowel ischemia, anuria, respiratory failure

STAGED CLOSURE
Avoid abdominal viscera compression
Allow early extubation

POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT
 PRIMARY CLOSURE
• Preferred method
– No need to return to the OR for definitive closure
– Abdominal organs within the abdominal cavity
• May result in abdominal compartment syndrome
– Impairment of respiratory function
– Decreased perfusion to intraabdominal organs
– Impaired venous return to the heart
– Increased intracranial pressure
– Wound dehiscence
 STAGED CLOSURE
• Creation of a silo
• Abdominal organs
reduced slowly over
days
 PRIMARY vs. STAGED
• Criteria for staged repair
– Peak inspiratory pressure (plateau)
• > 25 cm H2O
– Intragastric pressure
• > 20 mmHg
– Intravesicular pressure
• > 20 mmHg
– Central venous pressure
• > 4 mmHg above baseline
– Associated with decreased cardiac index
 POSTOPERATIVE CONCERNS
• Extubation
– Small defect
– No significant associated anomalies
• Mechanical ventilation until respiratory
compliance improves
• Monitor for abdominal compartment syndrome
– Continued edema of the bowel may result in a tight
closure
• Parenteral nutrition if delayed bowel function
 LONG TERM OUTCOMES
• Depends on associated congenital anomalies and
chromosomal abnormalities
– Particularly congenital heart disease
• Gastrointestinal
– Necrotizing enterocolitis
– Short gut syndrome
– Adhesions
– Obstruction
• Total parenteral nutrition side effects
– Liver injury
– Sepsis
• Scar complications