Pediatrics international : official journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
Contemporary Outcomes of Neonatal Exomphalos: A 12-Year Single-Centre Experience
By Gnanakuruparan A, Sinha CK and Shetty S.
Abstract
Aim
Exomphalos is a congenital abdominal wall defect associated with significant neonatal morbidity and mortality. Contemporary UK outcome data remain sparse. This study describes outcomes, anomalies, and management strategies for live-born infants with exomphalos over a 12-year period at a UK tertiary neonatal surgical centre.
Methods
A retrospective audit of 36 live-born infants admitted between 2011 and 2023 was performed. Infants were classified as exomphalos major (ExoMaj; defect ≥ 5 cm and/or containing the liver) or exomphalos minor (ExoMin; defect < 5 cm). Outcomes included mortality, hospital stay, ventilation duration, age to full enteral feeds, and complication rates.