ABSTRACT

Ambrose Pare first described omphalocele in 1634.1 The first successful treatment of omphalocele was likely by Hey in 1803.2 Most attempts at managing this neonatal problem were unsuccessful until Ahfeld promoted the topical treatment of the membrane to create an eschar in 1899.3 Gross described the use of skin flaps to initially close giant omphaloceles in 1948, with good success.4 Both topical treatment and skin flap closure were utilized to prevent the morbidity of ACS associated with closure of abdominal wall defects in newborns. Current therapy can include alternatives to immediate closure such as topical treatment with eschar promotion, and the use of preformed silastic silos with gradual reduction. Both of these man­ agement techniques tend to avoid much of the morbidity of immediate surgical closure in these infants.