Are there non-surgical methods to treat omphalocele?

No: The umbilical cord remains healthy & intact bathing in the watery environment of the womb, but is a throw away part of the newborn and soon dries and withers in open air. The omphalocoel has abdominal contents surrounded by thin peritomeum and the umbilical membrane. Neither has a tolerance for drying & both will break down & permit germs to enter and eventually lead to fatal outcome if untreated.

Temporarily: In patients born with giant omphaloceles, typically containing the liver and a good portion of the intestines, immediate fascial closure is not an option because of the absence of a peritoneal cavity. In these circumstances, the omphalocele sac can be treated with scarifying agents until the baby has grown enough (commonly, years) & developed an adequate peritoneal cavity for fascial repair.

Yes: In the newborn period, large omphalocele can be treated non-operatively. It requires close monitoring by the neonatologist and pediatric surgeon. The sac can be covered with a variety of substances, such as silvadene, (silver sulfadiazine) to allow gradual epithelization of the sac. The fascial/muscular defect can be surgically closed later in life.