title: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in the third world.
abstract: The relative rarity of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) in the developing world makes its diagnosis a challenge to many physicians. This study audits the management of HPS at a tertiary hospital in South Africa, with a view to defining its regional pattern. This is a retrospective review of records of all patients (n = 63) managed for HPS over an eight-year period (2002-2010). The mean age at presentation was 6.2 weeks and the male/female ratio was 6:1. The majority of patients presented with non-bilious vomiting. Abdominal ultrasound had a sensitivity of 65% and 81.3% when the criteria of pyloric muscle thickness >4 mm and pyloric channel length >16 mm were used, respectively. The overall complication rate was 14.3% and the mortality rate was 0%. Despite the rarity of HPS in the Third World, the outcome of its management is favourable. However, the sensitivity of abdominal ultrasound for diagnosing HPS is low.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu - Natal, Congella 4013, SA. saulapw@yahoo.com
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Saula
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Hadley
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D046248:Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011708:Pylorus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology