Does omphalocele major undergo spontaneous closure?
Ekerete A Ekot1, Victor C Emordi1, David O Osifo1
1Department of Surgery, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo 234, Nigeria.
Insights
Conservative management of omphalocele major in African neonates, using honey dressing, can lead to spontaneous closure. This approach avoids surgical risks and improves survival rates in resource-limited settings.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal surgery
- Pediatric surgery
- Wound healing
Background:
- Omphalocele major in African neonates often leads to surgical complications, exacerbated by congenital anomalies.
- Early surgical intervention carries significant risks for vulnerable newborns in resource-limited settings.
Observation:
- Conservative management utilizing escharotics promotes early skin coverage through secondary wound healing.
- Honey dressing was employed as a conservative measure for omphalocele major.
Findings:
- The case presented demonstrated spontaneous closure of omphalocele major with conservative honey dressing.
- Non-surgical management successfully achieved wound closure, obviating the need for immediate fascial repair.
Implications:
- Conservative management, including honey dressing, offers a viable alternative to surgery for omphalocele major in neonates.
- This approach can reduce neonatal surgical risks and potentially improve survival outcomes in resource-constrained environments.
Abstract:
The early surgical management of omphalocele major in Africa predisposes neonates to surgical complications which are often worsened by the presence of associated anomalies. Conservative management using available escharotics results in early skin cover by secondary wound healing. This delays the need for fascial closure and avoids neonatal surgical risks thus improving survival. We present a case of omphalocele major that underwent spontaneous closure during conservative management with honey dressing without surgical intervention.
