Recurrent pyloric stenosis: a form of the incomplete pyloromyotomy

Abstract

Post-pyloromyotomy emesis is common and may be secondary to non-surgical conditions such as pyloric edema, gastroparesis, pylorospasm, or gastroesophageal reflux. Early persistent postoperative emesis is typically attributed to an incomplete pyloromyotomy; whereas delayed postoperative emesis after an asymptomatic period with weight gain has been attributed to recurrent pyloric stenosis. We report a case of an incomplete pyloromyotomy, fulfilling all the criteria of recurrent pyloric stenosis, that suggests recurrent pyloric stenosis is not a separate entity, but a form of the incomplete pyloromyotomy with a failure of the hypertrophied pyloric muscle to regress after an unsuccessful pyloromyotomy.

Keywords

• Pyloromyotomy
• Incomplete pyloromyotomy
• Recurrent pyloric stenosis