Zoloft® and Omphalocele
According to study results, babies that are exposed to Zoloft® (sertraline) may have an increased risk of developing an abdominal defect called omphalocele. If you were prescribed Zoloft® while you were pregnant and your baby was born with omphalocele or gastroschisis, contact our Zoloft® birth defect lawyers for help today.
Zoloft® Abdominal Defects
Omphalocele is an abdominal birth defect in which the baby's intestine or other organs pop out of the belly button. The condition is classified as a type of hernia in which the intestine can be seen through a thin layer of tissue on the outside of the body.
A diagnosis is easily made at birth, because the protruding intestine can be clearly seen. In minor cases, only the intestine shows. In more severe cases, the liver and /or spleen sticks out of the body as well. In most cases, babies are diagnoses with the condition before birth via an ultrasound. Because the condition is clearly identified, diagnostic tests after birth will usually not be necessary.
Omphalocele Causes and Complications
An omphalocele develops when the muscles in the abdominal wall don't close properly and the intestines herniate into the base of the umbilical cord. Babies with omphalocele are at an increased risk of developing other birth defects, including:
- Cardiac or neural tube defects
- Intestinal malrotation
- Anomalies involving the urinary system
Other complications can include underdeveloped lungs or abdominal cavity.
Omphalocele Treatment
The purpose of treatment is to get the intestines and organs back inside the body after the baby is born. The size and severity of the omphalocele will determine the type of treatment that is needed. In less severe cases that only involve the intestine, vaginal delivery may be appropriate. Surgery to put the intestine back inside the abdominal cavity will be performed after delivery. The baby will most likely be kept in the hospital on a ventilator to help with breathing following surgery.
In more severe cases that involve the spleen and liver, a cesarean will likely be required. Organs that are exposed will be wrapped carefully and will usually return to the abdominal cavity on their own via gravity. In some cases, surgery will be required. Surgery to close the abdominal wall after the organs return to the abdominal cavity will be needed. Surgery might not be performed until as many as 12 months after delivery, depending on how big the abdominal cavity is at birth. During this time, the baby is at risk of complications, including:
- Infection
- Feeding intolerance
- Respiratory compromise
Babies that are born with this defect will be fed through intravenously until the bowels recover.
Contact a Zoloft Birth Defects Lawyer
If your baby is born with an abdominal defect and you were prescribed Zoloft® (sertraline) during your pregnancy, you should contact a Zoloft® birth defects lawyer for help. You and your baby might be eligible for financial compensation to help pay for the medical costs associated with the malformation as well as the pain and suffering endured.
Please call us today and schedule a free case review.