The conservative management of exomphalos major

In 52 children with exomphalos treated over a 10 year period, the overall mortality was 31%. Death was almost invariably due to associated major congenital abnormalities. Treatment of minor exomphalos by primary closure incurred no additional mortality and minimal morbidity. Treatment of 25 children with exomphalos major by excharotics resulted in two deaths not attributable to other anomalies, one of which was a result of complications of this treatment regimen. Apart from infection, which was in general easy to control, the morbidity associated with this form of treatment was less than encountered in most reports of surgical closure.