Pyloric stenosis describes a condition in newborn babies. Specifically, pyloric stenosis occurs when the muscle (pyloric muscle or pylorus) that allows food to move from the stomach into the small intestines thickens. Thickening of this muscle narrows the opening and prevents food from moving easily from the stomach into the small intestine.
A baby with pyloric stenosis experiences gradually increased vomiting, which may eventually become projectile and lead to dehydration. Since the food the baby eats does not enter the small intestines there may not be enough nourishment for the developing infant.
Although the condition affects both boys and girls, boys are 4 times more likely to have this problem. The condition often begins around the second or third week of life but may start any time up to the age of 6 months. Frequent spitting up after feedings is the first clue to the condition. Later, spitting up develops into projectile vomiting: vomiting that is sudden and vigorous, and projects several feet away from the body.
No one knows exactly what causes pyloric stenosis.
Factors that seem to play a role in whether or not a baby develops this condition include:
If pyloric stenosis is diagnosed the baby will require minor surgery.
Doctors use surgery to cut into and spread apart the enlarged pylorus muscle. This widens the opening from the stomach into the small intestines and allows food and liquids to move more easily.
Parents should see a decrease in spitting up and vomiting after the surgery as well as increased weight gain as food begins to nourish the infant’s developing body.
The 2 main surgical options to correct pyloric stenosis include:
laparoscopic surgery: A doctor uses a thin tube that passes through an incision in the infant’s belly-button. This tube helps guide the doctor to the pyloric muscle.
open surgery: Open surgery requires the doctor to make an incision in the baby’s abdomen to reach the pyloric muscle.
Treating the condition with surgery is very effective and the baby can usually go home within a day or two. In rare cases, spitting up after the surgery may be a sign that the pyloric muscle was not cut enough to widen the opening from the stomach into the small intestines.
In developed countries, surgery is the way pyloric stenosis is treated because it is so effective. If you are in an area with no pediatric surgeon or anesthesiologist, medical treatment with atropine* may be recommended. Atropine is a less effective treatment, and so it is not recommended if surgery is possible.
Preventing pyloric stenosis is not possible. However, knowing the signs and symptoms of the condition and recognizing them in your child may help you get the care your baby needs as early as possible. In turn, you may prevent complications such as dehydration, weight loss, and poor nutrition.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2026. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Pyloric-Stenosis
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