Pyloric Stenosis

Pyloric stenosis is the narrowing of the lower portion of the stomach that leads into the small intestine. It can cause the stomach muscles to thicken and prevent food from moving from the stomach to the intestine.

Signs and Symptoms:

The most common symptom of pyloric stenosis is projectile vomiting. Other symptoms may include weight loss, dehydration, lethargy, fewer bowel movements and mild jaundice.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

• Physical examination generally reveals a firm mass, the size of an olive, in the mid-abdomen, but additional tests can be performed such as blood tests, abdominal ultrasound and a barium swallow/upper GI series.
• Pyloric stenosis is treated in two stages. First, fluids are given intravenously to treat dehydration and restore the body's normal chemistry. Then, a pyloromyotomy operation is performed to open the tight muscle via open or laparoscopic surgery.