Omphalocele: Conservative Management Using a Natural Approach in a Resource-Limited Setting
—Series of Three Cases Observed at the La Bavière Specialised Paediatric Medical Centre, Haut-Uélé, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Introduction: Omphalocele is a congenital malformation characterized by the failure of the abdominal wall to close. It is presented as a hernia of varying size at the base of the navel. Omphalocele is a public health problem worldwide. It affects approximately 1 in 10,000 births, with an overall mortality rate estimated at between 10% and 65%. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical aspects and management of omphalocele at the La Bavière Pediatric Medical Center in Haut-Uélé (CMB). Patients and Methods: This descriptive case series, conducted at the La Bavière Health Pediatric Medical Center in Durba (DRC) between January 2024 and April 2025, reports on three newborns hospitalized for omphalocele. Clinical, therapeutic, and evolutionary data were collected from medical records and analyzed descriptively, in accordance with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Results: Three children were included, none diagnosed prenatally, and the patients’ ages ranged from 3 to 7 days old. The newborns’ weights ranged from 3 to 4 kg. It predominates in boys living in rural areas and disadvantaged families in 66.6% of cases. The types of omphalocele identified were type 2 (67%) and type 3 (33%). No patients had cardiac or other associated malformations. Fever was noted in 33.3% of cases, while omphalitis or local infection of the umbilical stump was present in 66.6% of cases. All patients were treated using a non-operative management: application of a compression dressing made from zinc oxide and Flammazine？, held in place with elastic bandages and adhesive tape, until complete epithelialization of the abdomen. Dehydration, malnutrition, and anemia were the main complications. The length of hospital stay ranged from 10 to 45 days. All patients progressed favorably without the need for surgery. The cure rate was 100%. All patients came from areas of artisanal and industrial mining, with heavy use of cyanide, mercury, and toxic products. Conclusion: Omphalocele is a global public health issue in both industrialized and developing countries. In the absence of associated malformations, local care using compression dressings with emollients offers good results in low-resource countries.