Minimally Invasive Surgery

Pyloric Stenosis

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Treatment

Pyloric stenosis does not improve by itself and must be corrected with an operation. The operation is called a "pyloromyotomy." Prior to the operation, your child will be admitted to the hospital for intravenous fluids. Feedings will be held temporarily and restarted after surgery. A blood sample will be taken to check for dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities. Electrolytes are a measure of the amount of sodium, potassium, carbon dioxide and chloride in the blood. Frequent vomiting can make the electrolytes abnormal. The surgeon will schedule the operation as soon as the infant's electrolyte levels are normal and dehydration is corrected. This may take a day of treatment with intravenous fluids.

A pyloromyotomy, which used to be done through a horizontal incision that left a scar across the abdomen, now is performed using a small telescope, two miniature instruments and several pencil-tip size incisions. The operation usually takes about an hour.

Most infants are discharged from the hospital one to two days after the operation.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated January 15, 2008