Omphalocele in two calves

Two calves were found to have omphaloceles at the time of observed unassisted parturition. Both calves were admitted to the veterinary hospital within hours of birth. One calf, with the amnion covering of the herniated intestine and liver intact, was successfully treated by herniorrhaphy. The second calf had ruptured the amnion covering the hernia by the time of admission. This calf was euthanatized during laparotomy because of severe gross contamination of the abdominal cavity. An omphalocele is a congenital defect in the body wall in which eviscerated abdominal organs are covered by amnion rather than skin.