Raymond SL, Downard CD, St. Peter SD, et al. - Researchers conducted a multicenter, retrospective observational study of 274 live-born neonates with omphalocele at nine centers in the United States in order to evaluate factors that influence the morbidity and mortality of these neonates. They identified this study as the largest contemporary study of neonates with omphalocele. Cesarean section was undertaken to deliver the majority of the neonates at a median gestational age of 37 weeks. Overall survival to hospital discharge of 81% was evident. They commonly observed the presence of an associated anomaly, with cardiac abnormalities being the most frequent. Large omphaloceles vs small omphaloceles had a significantly longer hospital and ICU length of stay, time on ventilator, number of tracheostomies, time on total parenteral nutrition, and time to full feeds. Independent predictors of survival were birth weight and defect size.