Experience with a nonlaparoscopic, transumbilical, intracavitary pyloromyotomy

Background/PurposeRamstedt's pyloromyotomy for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is elegant, effective, and time-honored. Although its basic principle has not changed over the last 95 years, considerable debate exists concerning the preferred access to the pylorus and the muscle-splitting technique. Reviewed here is the experience with an approach that combines the ease and safety of the “open” pyloromyotomy with the advantages of minimal invasiveness.MethodsThis series encompasses 75 consecutive, prospectively recorded pyloromyotomies. A short, curved upper umbilical rim incision is made. The linea alba is transected transversally and the abdomen entered. The pylorus is grasped with a Babcock clamp and lifted to the incision, but not delivered. Two 3:0 guy sutures are placed in the hypertrophied musculature to lift and maintain the pylorus in place. A longitudinal serosal incision is made and deepened to 1 to 3 mm. Two double-pronged skin hooks are placed, one on each partially separated edge, and gentle upward and outward traction applied until complete splitting is achieved. The mucosa is not touched by an instrument.ResultsThe age of the 75 children ranged from 9 to 89 days (mean, 40; median, 36). Their weight ranged from 2.4 to 5.4 kg (mean, 3.7 kg; median, 3.6). Fifty-seven were boys. The mean operating time was 28 minutes. The pyloric muscle splitting was performed by general surgical residents in 66. There were no mucosal injuries. Seventy-two children were discharged within 24 hours, the remaining within 48 hours. Two superficial wound infections and one suture reaction occurred. There were no recurrences.ConclusionTransumbilical intracavitary pyloromyotomy is a safe, reproducible procedure combining the advantages of the two most commonly employed approaches (traditional “open” and laparoscopic). Because the pylorus is not delivered, a smaller incision is used. The scar is virtually invisible. The safety of this procedure renders it well suited for the teaching setting.