by 
The Curious Bag
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An omphalocele, a type of hernia where an infant's intestines protrude through a hole in the belly, and are exposed outside of the body, can be a frightening thing to see. Made even more difficult is that this condition often appears alongside other, more serious complications the child must also deal with.
Cause
An omphalocele is caused when the muscles of a developing baby's abdominal wall do not close properly, which normally should occur right around the 10th week of gestation.
Treatment
Surgery is the only dependable means to correct the omphalocele. Essentially, a surgeon will cover the protruding intestine with a synthetic material and then tuck it back into the baby's abdomen, stitching it to the abdominal wall.
Genetics
Occasionally, a genetic mutation of the fetus called Trisomy 18, will be the cause of the omphalocele occurring.
Testing
The standard performance of a prenatal ultrasound will most often identify the presence of an omphalocele. There is not a standard test that is run to detect this disorder.
Complications
The most serious complication of an omphalocele is that the intestinal tissue, which was exposed at one point to open air, will become infected and die. Another risk is that an intestinal infection can set in.
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