Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: surgical experience of 24 cases.

Twenty-four patients with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis were admitted to the University Department of Paediatrics, Singapore General Hospital, from 1974 to 1980 were reviewed. The male to female ratio was 2.4:1. The age of onset of vomiting ranged from birth to 7-week. All except 2 had palpable pyloric tumour. Barium meal studies were required in these two patients to confirm the diagnosis preoperatively. Significant abnormal laboratory findings on admission were: metabolic alkalosis (71%), hypochloraemia (63%), hyponatraemia (54%), hypokalaemia (21%), haemoconcentration (39%) and pre-renal azotaemia (17%). Two-thirds of the patients were operated within 24 to 48 hours after intravenous correction of fluid deficit and electrolyte imbalance. Common complications after Ramstedt's pyloromyotomy were vomiting and fever which were, however, mild and subsided in two to three days. Serious complications were uncommon and there was no mortality in this series. Majority of the patients were discharged well after one to two weeks of hospitalization.