Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: experience in a district general hospital.
One hundred and twenty-nine infants with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis were referred to one consultant surgeon over a 13-year period. In all cases general anaesthesia was used and a standardized surgical technique followed. No mortality was recorded. Twenty-seven infants had postoperative complications, excluding vomiting. Wound infections developed in 3% of cases and required treatment; there was no abdominal wound dehiscence. Prophylactic antibiotic treatment was not indicated. Postoperative vomiting occurred in 69% of the infants; in 15% this was severe and required an alteration in clinical management and a lengthened hospital stay. Attention to the severity rather than the incidence of postoperative vomiting will reduce morbidity further. Low morbidity and zero mortality can be achieved in non-specialist centres.
Saunders
M P
MP
Surgical Department, Royal Hospital, Wolverhampton, UK.
Williams
C R
CR
D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011707:Pyloric Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology