Recurrent pyloric stenosis: to dilate or operate? A preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
Idiopathic hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is a common surgical problem in infants, and pyloromyotomy is almost always successful in alleviating the obstruction. There are few reports in the literature that discuss recurrent pyloric stenosis as opposed to incomplete pyloromyotomy. We report 2 such babies with different cures.


METHODS
The health records department files were electronically searched for the number of infants at our children's hospital with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis seen over the past 30 years (1973-2003), and the recurrences were reviewed.


RESULTS
Recurrent pyloric stenosis was encountered in 2 cases (<0.07%). Balloon dilatation was first tried in both cases and was successful in 1 case; redo pyloromyotomy was required for the second case.


CONCLUSIONS
Recurrent pyloric stenosis is rare. Fluoroscopic balloon dilatation of the pylorus warrants further study as the first choice for curing this problem, and if unsuccessful, redo pyloromyotomy.
Nasr
Ahmed
A
The Division of General Surgery and The Department of Interventional Radiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1X8.
Ein
Sigmund H
SH
Connolly
Bairbre
B
D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D046248:Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome