A case is presented which demonstrates many of the problems encountered in treating this rare surgical emergency. The credit for a successful outcome must go mainly to the pediatricians whose close supervision and prompt therapeutic efforts were rewarded by a healthy normal infant. In the presence of a seriously damaged bowel and general peritonitis, it is difficult to imagine recovery without the streptomycin and penicillin administered. Infants are notorious for their inability to withstand any surgical procedure that allows even minor peritoneal contamination such as that occurring in bowel resection or ileostomy. According to the literature available to the authors, this is the third infant that has recovered when the omphalocele was founded ruptured at birth. All these recoveries occurred during the past few years and with the aid of large doses of antibiotics. This case also demonstrates the often life-saving value of the polyethylene venous cannula which will stay patent for days and allow continuous adequate doses of fluids, both electrolytes and blood. Demonstrated, also, is the lesson all surgeons should know—to give every case all possible aid even in the face of a seemingly hopeless pathologic state.
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