The surgical approach to omphalocele repair varies depending on the size of the defect.
In cases of minor omphalocele, the organs contained within the sac outside the abdominal wall are carefully returned to the abdominal cavity shortly after birth, and the defect is surgically closed.
For major omphaloceles, treatment often involves a staged repair or the use of a graft patch. In infants with large omphaloceles involving the liver and other visceral organs, it may not be feasible to return all the externalized organs to the abdominal cavity in a single procedure. This can be due to insufficient abdominal volume or potential respiratory compromise. In such situations, the surgical repair is performed gradually over time, often in multiple stages.