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Pyloric stenosis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis; Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis; Gastric outlet obstruction

Treatment:

Treatment for pyloric stenosis involves surgery (Ramstedt pyloromyotomy) to split the overdeveloped muscles of the pylorus.

Balloon dilation is less effective, but may be considered for infants when the risk of general anesthesia is high.

The patient will be given intravenous fluids, usually prior to surgery.

Expectations (prognosis):

Surgical repair usually provides complete relief of symptoms.

Small, frequent feedings are usually well tolerated several hours after the surgery.

Complications:

• Postoperative vomiting (This is very common and generally improves with time.)
• Failure to gain weight in the newborn period
• Risks associated with any surgery

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if symptoms suggestive of pyloric stenosis develop in your infant.

• Review Date: 8/18/2006
• Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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