Floating gallbladder in exomphalos minor an exceptional condition that should be considered, a case report

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Congenital Malformations
• Abdominal Wall Defects

Background:

• Exomphalos minor is a congenital abdominal wall defect (<5 cm) containing intra-abdominal organs within a sac.
• The primary surgical goal is to repair the defect while preserving organs within the sac.
• A floating gallbladder is an uncommon but significant finding in exomphalos minor.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a case of exomphalos minor with an incidentally found, free-floating gallbladder.
• To highlight the surgical management and implications of this rare presentation.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of a 7-day-old infant with an abdominal mass and signs of inflammation.
• Diagnostic workup included genetic, chromosomal, and imaging studies (ultrasonography).
• Surgical correction of the abdominal wall defect with intraoperative identification and removal of the gallbladder.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with exomphalos minor and signs of inflammation.
• Ultrasonography revealed the gallbladder was not fixed to the liver.
• The gallbladder was found within the exomphalos sac and successfully removed; the patient had a satisfactory postoperative recovery.

Conclusions:

• Exomphalos minor necessitates careful surgical repair to preserve intra-abdominal contents.
• A gallbladder without hepatic fixation presents a risk of torsion, inflammation, and necrosis, mandating cholecystectomy.
• Exomphalos minor generally has a good prognosis, especially when small and without associated anomalies.