SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF HYPERTROPHIC PYLORI C-STENOSIS IN A DISTRICT GENERAL-HOSPITAL

The authors purpose was to demonstrate that pyloromyotomy can be succe ssfully carried out by nonspecialist surgeons. Eighty three cases admi tted over a twelve-year period to the Department of Pediatrics of Mont ecelo Hospital, a district general hospital, were reviewed. Extramucos al pyloromyotomy was performed by general surgeons under general anaes thesia in all cases. There were no deaths. Three infants had postopera tive complications and required treatment. All cases underwent prophyl actic antibiotics and no wound infections were recorded. When compared with other published series, our study shows that extramucosal pyloro myotomy can be carried out safely by general surgeons and that prophyl actic antibiotic treatment can decrease morbidity. Postoperative compl ications are not related to damage of the duodenal mucosa or the type of skin incision.