Clinical characteristics and perinatal outcomes of fetal omphalocele.

Hyun, Min Kyung; Park, Sun Kyung; Lim, So Hee; Cha, Kyung Hee; Ju, Da Hye; Na, Sung Hun; Shim, Jae Yoon; Won, Hye Sung; Lee, Pil Ryang; Kim, Ahm

Original Article

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2009;52(9):903-910.
Published online September 1, 2009.

Clinical characteristics and perinatal outcomes of fetal omphalocele.

Min Kyung Hyun, Sun Kyung Park, So Hee Lim, Kyung Hee Cha, Da Hye Ju, Sung Hun Na, Jae Yoon Shim, Hye Sung Won, Pil Ryang Lee, Ahm Kim

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. jyshim@amc.seoul.kr
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University Gangwon-do, Korea.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics and perinatal outcomes of fetuses with omphalocele. METHODS: The study enrolled all fetuses diagnosed prenatally with omphalocele at a single institution, from August 1996 to April 2008. Data were collected retrospectively by reviewing the maternal and neonatal medical records. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 54 cases with prenatally diagnosed omphalocele. In all, 15 fetuses were live-born, 29 were terminated, four died in utero, and six were lost to follow-up. Associated anomalies were found in 72.9% (35/48). Abnormal karyotype was found in 33.3% (16/48). In the live births, associated major anomalies were present in 46.7% (7/15) and were associated with increased neonatal morbidity. The rate of severe neonatal morbidity was 53.3% (8/15). In one case, death followed prolonged hospitalization with complications related to associated anomalies. The neonatal mortality rate was 6.7% (1/15) with no postoperative deaths. CONCLUSION: In this study, the neonatal mortality rates were low in the absence of associated anomalies or genetic defects. The results emphasize the importance of identifying both those fetuses with a potentially positive prognosis and favorable outcome and those which are likely to have a fatal outcome.

Key Words: Omphalocele, Prenatal diagnosis, Associated anomalies, Prognosis