Texas Omphalocele Lawsuit

Omphalocele is a serious abdominal-wall birth defect, in which the baby’s intestines protrude into the umbilical cord. This condition requires surgery immediately after birth. Mothers who took SSRIs, antidepressants, Clomid, and other drugs during pregnancy have an increased chance of having a baby with a serious birth defect.

Do I Have a Omphalocele Lawsuit? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one has given birth to a child with a birth defect after taking an SSRI, antidepressant, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro, Symbyax, Effexor, Clomid, or other medication during pregnancy, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Omphalocele lawsuit.

What drugs have been linked to Omphalocele?

Do not start or stop any medication without first consulting your doctor. If you are pregnant or considering a pregnancy, talk to your doctor about which drugs should be continued or stopped — including over-the-counter medications, prescription medicines, herbal supplements, and dietary supplements. Some medications can cause serious birth defects.

SSRIs / Antidepressant Drugs: Taking these medications during pregnancy may significantly increase your risk of having a baby with a serious birth defect.

SSRIs and antidepressants include the following prescription medications:

Clomid: Clomid is classified as a Category X drug by the FDA, meaning it is known to cause birth defects. Animals or humans have developed fetal abnormalities in clinical research and there is evidence to suggest human fetuses may be at risk. As a Category X drug, the risks may outweigh the potential benefits.

Omphalocele Overview

Omphalocele (um-fal-o-seel) is a congenital birth defect, in which the internal organs protrude through a hole in the abdominal wall, and the baby is born with its intestines outside the body within a translucent membrane. Normally, when a baby is developing in the womb, the intestines protrude into the umbilical cord at about 6-8 weeks. By the eleventh week, they have usually returned to the abdomen. An Omphalocele occurs when they do not return to the abdomen, and protrude inside a sac at the base of the umbilical cord. Small cases occur in about one out of every 5,000 live births, and large cases occur in roughly one out of 10,000 live births.

It is closely related to another birth defect, known as Gastroschisis. In this birth defect, the baby is also born with intestines outside the body, but there is no protective membrane.

Signs & Symptoms of Omphalocele

Omphalocele is almost always diagnosed by an ultrasound technician before the baby is born. A mother who has a baby with this birth defect will need to be monitored. Doctors will probably recommend that the mother give birth prematurely, at about 36 weeks, when the baby’s lungs have developed. Delivery will occur via C-section, in order to protect the baby’s delicate intestines. Once the baby is born, the defect will be visually apparent, because the abdominal contents protrude through the belly-button area. Surgery will occur within 12-24 hours after birth, once the baby has stabilized.

If the sac around the internal organs is ruptured, the baby will be at an increased risk of an infection and other complications. The internal organs can also lose heat and fluids. Therefore, utmost care is taken to keep the sac intact until surgery can move the bowels into the abdominal cavity.

Treatment & Prognosis

Surgical repair is the only option for treating Omphalocele. The baby will receive intravenous nutrients until surgery repairs the birth defect.

In less severe cases, the abdominal cavity develops fully, and a surgeon can repair the defect in one surgery by placing the intestines back inside the abdomen and repairing the hole in the abdominal wall.

In more severe cases, surgery is usually delayed. Severe cases involve a very large protrusion, and an abdominal cavity that is too small to accommodate the organs. The sac is covered with a warm, moist dressing, or a sterile bag called a “silo” which gradually squeezes the organs into the belly. If the sac breaks, the baby will need to undergo surgery immediately.

If the abdominal cavity is too small, there will often be other complications. The lungs may not have room to inflate fully, making it difficult to breathe. Approximately 25-40% of babies with Omphalocele will also have other birth defects, including genetic problems (chromosomal abnormalities), congenital diaphragmatic hernia, and heart defects. Intestinal infection and death of intestinal tissue is another serious complication.

The baby will be able to go home when he/she can eat food and begins to grow. Most babies born with Omphalocele will be in the hospital for one or two months after birth, though babies with large abdominal-wall defects may need to stay in the hospital for more time.

Later surgeries may be necessary to repair the muscles in the baby’s belly, and improve the cosmetic appearance of the abdomen.

Do I Have a Omphalocele Lawsuit?

For a free consultation, please contact Collen A. Clark at The Clark Firm, LLP immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Omphalocele lawsuit.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more that 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $60 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact us for a free Omphalocele birth defect lawsuit review.