Affiliation:
1. Department of Paediatrics Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe Co. Galway Ireland
2. Department of Surgery Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe Co. Galway Ireland
Abstract
SUMMARY One hundred and twenty infants with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis were operated on by two consultant general surgeons over a 13‐year period. General anaesthetic and a standard surgical approach was used in all cases. No mortality was recorded and there were no wound dehiscences. The overall postoperative wound infection rate was 9.2%. Prior to 1985 the infection rate was 15%. Following attention to a number of details including care of the umbilicus, the incidence decreased after 1985 to 4%. The most common postoperative complication was vomiting, which occurred in 25% of infants. There was one negative laparotomy in the 13‐year study period. Two children required a second procedure for persistent vomiting. The argument in favour of specialisation in managing this condition is questioned along with the need for intensive diagnostic investigation.