An 18 years' review of exomphalos highlighting the association with malrotation.

INTRODUCTION: This was a retrospective 18 years' review of infants with exomphalos with particular attention to its association with malrotation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed all exomphalos cases presenting to our neonatal surgery unit, from October 1991 to September 2009. Data were presented as median and range values. Categorical data were analyzed using Fisher's exact tests and P value of ≤0.05 was considered as significant.

RESULTS: Forty-two infants with exomphalos (E. major 23, E. minor 19) were treated during this period. The incidence of surgically confirmed malrotation was 45% in E. major and 31% in E. minor.

CONCLUSION: The association of malrotation in exomphalos major and exomphalos minor infants is alarmingly high and supports the need to actively exclude this abnormality, either operatively or radiologically.