A new nonoperative treatment of large omphaloceles with a polymer membrane

The management of a huge omphalocele that cannot be primarily closed presents many difficulties. When surgery is technically impossible, the application of a Silon pouch carries a serious risk of infection and painting the sac with tinctures has its own peculiar problems. A newborn baby with a large unruptured omphalocele was successfully treated by covering the sac with a skin-like polymer membrane that is flexible, elastic, and impervious to bacteria and water. The covering did not adhere to the underlying tissues and did not interfere with gastrointestinal function. Infection was not a problem. This material was wrapped around the trunk and covered with a dry sterile dressing. The entire dressing was removed after 3 wk, revealing a small residual area of granulations that subsequently healed at home. This baby was not operated upon. We have also used this technique in a second newborn in whom the sac had ruptured. The rent was repaired and the membrane applied. This method does not eliminate later closure of the large ventral hernia, but ccertainly eliminates the necessity for surgery in the newborn period.