Laparoscopic vs open pyloromyotomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The Utility of Prophylactic Antibiotics for Laparoscopic Pyloromyotomy

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy (LP) for the treatment of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is a clean case with low expected rates of postoperative surgical site infection (SSI). Previous studies have shown a low risk of SSI following LP but also large variations in the utilization of prophylactic antibiotics. The goal of this study was to review the use of preoperative antibiotics for LP and to compare this with SSI incidence.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective single-center analysis of patients undergoing LP for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis at a large quaternary children's hospital from January 2017 to June 2020. Subjects were <4 mo old. Exclusion criteria were those lost to follow-up within 30 d postoperatively and those who required open conversion intraoperatively. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test, two-tailed independent t-tests, and descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

Two-hundred twenty-seven patients were included, mean population age was 5.7 wk, and 81.1% were male. Preoperative antibiotics were administered in 39% of patients. Only 1.3% (n = 3) of all patients developed an SSI within 30 d of their operation. Analysis between patients who received preoperative antibiotics and those who did not revealed no difference in age (5.72 wk versus 5.72 wk, t (225) = 0.38, P = 0.70), sex (41% of males versus 32% of females, P = 0.39), length of stay (t(225) = -0.94, P = 0.35), or postoperative SSI (1.1% versus 1.4%, P > 0.999). Large variability was noted in antibiotic utilization by surgeon.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients undergoing LP, there was no difference in SSI rates whether or not patients received preoperative antibiotics and, there is large variation in utilization. Measures are needed to decrease usage of prophylactic antibiotics before LP.

The experience of a tertiary referral center with laparoscopic pyelolithotomy for large renal stones during 18 years

This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic pyelolithotomy, including its efficacy and feasibility in treatment of large renal stones. All patients who underwent laparoscopic pyelolithotomy operations in a referral center were enrolled from 2003 to 2020. The final analysis included 436 patients. The total stone free rate was 88.3% and the stone-free rate for staghorn/multiple stones versus other types of stones was 81% vs. 91% (P = 0.002). Likewise, the total operation duration was 158 ± 50 and the operation duration for staghorn/multiple stones versus other types of stones was 171 ± 51 min vs. 153 ± 49 min (P < 0.001). The operation duration (169 ± 51 vs. 155 ± 58 vs. 155 ± 42 min) and hospitalization (4.5 ± 2.3 vs. 4.0 ± 2.2 vs. 3.6 ± 1.8) decreased with increasing the surgeons' experience over time. The outcomes of laparoscopic pyelolithotomy for children versus adults versus geriatric patients and in patients with normal versus abnormal kidney anatomy did not reveal statistically significant differences. Laparoscopic pyelolithotomy could be employed as an alternative surgical approach for patients with large kidney stones of any age or with kidney abnormalities provided that appropriate expertise is available to carry out the procedure.

Questioning Prophylactic Antibiotic Use for Pyloromyotomy: Analysis of the Pediatric Health Information System database

BACKGROUND

Pyloromyotomy has a low rate of wound complications, yet antibiotic prophylaxis is still given. The Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database was queried to determine whether prophylactic antibiotics decreased wound complications.

METHODS

Records for infants with pyloric stenosis between 2016 and 2021 were extracted from the PHIS database and analyzed for demographics, comorbid conditions, and complications within 30 days of pyloromyotomy. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the effect of antibiotic prophylaxis on complications.

RESULTS

Among 14,247 infants who underwent pyloromyotomy, 29.5% had antibiotic prophylaxis. These patients were more likely to have been admitted to the NICU and have chronic conditions and prematurity (p < 0.01). Antibiotic utilization varied among hospitals from 2.3 to 58.5%. Complication rates among those who received antibiotics was 1.64% versus 1.62% for those who did not. The odds for developing complications in those who received prophylaxis compared to those who did not was 1.10, (0.73, 1.41, 95%, p = 0.93) suggesting there is no effect of antibiotics on complication rates.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a wide variation among hospitals in the usage of prophylactic antibiotics for pyloromyotomy. There was no difference in complication rates whether or not patients received antibiotics. These results suggest antibiotic prophylaxis is unnecessary for pyloromyotomy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Open Versus Laparoscopic Pyloromyotomy for Pyloric Stenosis-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is treated by either open pyloromyotomy (OP) or laparoscopic pyloromyotomy (LP). The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the open versus laparoscopic technique.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted from 1990 to February 2021 using the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Primary outcomes were mucosal perforation and incomplete pyloromyotomy. Secondary outcomes consisted of length of hospital stay, time to full feeds, operating time, postoperative wound infection/abscess, incisional hernia, hematoma/seroma formation, and death.

RESULTS

Seven randomized controlled trials including 720 patients (357 with OP and 363 with LP) were included. Mucosal perforation rate was not different between groups (relative risk [RR] LP versus OP 1.60 [0.49-5.26]). LP was associated with nonsignificant higher risk of incomplete pyloromyotomy (RR 7.37 [0.92-59.11]). There was no difference in neither postoperative wound infections after LP compared with OP (RR 0.59 [0.24-1.45]) nor in postoperative seroma/hematoma formation (RR 3.44 [0.39-30.43]) or occurrence of incisional hernias (RR 1.01 [0.11-9.53]). Length of hospital stay (-3.01 h for LP [-8.39 to 2.37 h]) and time to full feeds (-5.86 h for LP [-15.95 to 4.24 h]) were nonsignificantly shorter after LP. Operation time was almost identical between groups (+0.53 min for LP [-3.53 to 4.59 min]).

CONCLUSIONS

On a meta-level, there is no precise effect estimate indicating that LP carries a higher risk for mucosal perforation or incomplete pyloromyotomies compared with the open equivalent. Because of very low certainty of evidence, we do not know about the effect of the laparoscopic approach on postoperative wound infections, postoperative hematoma or seroma formation, incisional hernia occurrence, length of postoperative stay, time to full feeds, or operating time.

Return of the Banana Knife: An Alternative Instrument for Laparoscopic Pyloromyotomy

Background: When the disposable arthroscopic banana knife (Linvatec, Largo, FL) became unavailable, many pediatric surgeons adapted the use of spatula tip cautery for laparoscopic pyloromyotomy; however, reusable arthroscopic knives remain readily available and are well suited to the procedure. Methods: We compared laparoscopic pyloromyotomy with a reusable arthroscopic banana knife (Sklar, West Chester, PA; catalog no. 45-6050) to those using spatula tip cautery at a single institution between September 1, 2012, and December 31, 2019. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare operative time, room time, and time to discharge between groups. Results: Overall, 109 patients underwent pyloromyotomy for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis during the study time period. Of these, 12 were open and one was undertaken with the Storz pyloromyotomy knife, so these were excluded. A total of 74 (77.1%) laparoscopic cases with spatula tip cautery and 22 (22.9%) with the banana knife were included. Mean age at the time of surgery was ∼37 days. The majority of patients in each group were white, male, and full term. The most common comorbid conditions were reactive airway disease and neonatal abstinence syndrome. There were no significant differences in operative time (P = .61), room time (P = .41), or time from surgery to discharge (P = .26) between procedures using the banana knife and those using the cautery spatula tip. There were no perforations or recurrences. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the reusable banana knife is a safe and effective alternative to spatula tip cautery for laparoscopic pyloromyotomy, with no difference in operative time, time from surgery to discharge, or complications.

Management of Postoperative Complications Following Common Pediatric Operations

This review discusses complications unique to pediatric surgical populations. Here the authors focus primarily on five of the most common procedures performed in children: appendectomy, central venous catheterization, pyloromyotomy, gastrostomy, and inguinal/umbilical hernia repair.

Open versus laparoscopic pyloromyotomy for pyloric stenosis

BACKGROUND

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is a disorder of young children (aged one year or less) and can be treated by laparoscopic (LP) or open (OP) longitudinal myotomy of the pylorus. Since the first description in 1990, LP is being performed more often worldwide.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the efficacy and safety of open versus laparoscopic pyloromyotomy for IHPS.

SEARCH METHODS

We conducted a literature search on 04 February 2021 to identify all randomised controlled trials (RCTs), without any language restrictions. We searched the following electronic databases: MEDLINE (1990 to February 2021), Embase (1990 to February 2021), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). We also searched the Internet using the Google Search engine (www.google.com) and Google Scholar (scholar.google.com) to identify grey literature not indexed in databases.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included RCTs and quasi-randomised trials comparing LP with OP for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently screened references and extracted data from trial reports. Where outcomes or study details were not reported, we requested missing data from the corresponding authors of the primary RCTs. We used a random-effects model to calculate risk ratios (RRs) for binary outcomes, and mean differences (MDs) for continuous outcomes. Two review authors independently assessed risks of bias. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of the evidence for all outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS

The electronic database search resulted in a total of 434 records. After de-duplication, we screened 410 independent publications, and ultimately included seven RCTs (reported in 8 reports) in quantitative analysis. The seven included RCTs enrolled 720 participants (357 with open pyloromyotomy and 363 with laparoscopic pyloromyotomy). One study was a multi-country trial, three were carried out in the USA, and one study each was carried out in France, Japan, and Bangladesh. The evidence suggests that LP may result in a small increase in mucosal perforation compared with OP (RR 1.60, 95% CI 0.49 to 5.26; 7 studies, 720 participants; low-certainty evidence). LP may result in up to 5 extra instances of mucosal perforation per 1,000 participants; however, the confidence interval ranges from 4 fewer to 44 more per 1,000 participants. Four RCTs with 502 participants reported on incomplete pyloromyotomy. They indicate that LP may increase the risk of incomplete pyloromyotomy compared with OP, but the confidence interval crosses the line of no effect (RR 7.37, 95% CI 0.92 to 59.11; 4 studies, 502 participants; low-certainty evidence). In the LP groups, 6 cases of incomplete pyloromyotomy were reported in 247 participants while no cases of incomplete pyloromyotomy were reported in the OP groups (from 255 participants). All included studies (720 participants) reported on postoperative wound infections or abscess formations. The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of LP on postoperative wound infection or abscess formation compared with OP (RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.45; 7 studies, 720 participants; very low-certainty evidence). The evidence is also very uncertain about the effect of LP on postoperative incisional hernia compared with OP (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.11 to 9.53; 4 studies, 382 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Length of hospital stay was assessed by five RCTs, including 562 participants. The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of LP compared to OP (mean difference -3.01 hours, 95% CI -8.39 to 2.37 hours; very low-certainty evidence). Time to full feeds was assessed by six studies, including 622 participants. The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of LP on time to full feeds compared with OP (mean difference -5.86 hours, 95% CI -15.95 to 4.24 hours; very low-certainty evidence). The evidence is also very uncertain about the effect of LP on operating time compared with OP (mean difference 0.53 minutes, 95% CI -3.53 to 4.59 minutes; 6 studies, 622 participants; very low-certainty evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy may result in a small increase in mucosal perforation when compared with open pyloromyotomy for IHPS. There may be an increased risk of incomplete pyloromyotomy following LP compared with OP, but the effect estimate is imprecise and includes the possibility of no difference. We do not know about the effect of LP compared with OP on the need for re-operation, postoperative wound infections or abscess formation, postoperative haematoma or seroma formation, incisional hernia occurrence, length of postoperative stay, time to full feeds, or operating time because the certainty of the evidence was very low for these outcomes. We downgraded the certainty of the evidence for most outcomes due to limitations in the study design (most outcomes were susceptible to detection bias) and imprecision. There is limited evidence available comparing LP with OP for IHPS. The included studies did not provide sufficient information to determine the effect of training, experience, or surgeon preferences on the outcomes assessed.

Guidelines of the Italian Society of Videosurgery (SIVI) in Infancy for the minimally invasive treatment of Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis in neonates and infants

The most appropriate treatment for the infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis (HPS) is still debated. The non-surgical conservative treatment with oral or intravenous administration of atropine does not enjoy a widespread appreciation for several factors (...).

Thirty Years of Minimally Invasive Surgery in Children: Analysis of Meta-Analyses

INTRODUCTION

 In the last three decades, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has been widely used in pediatric surgery. Meta-analyses (MAs) showed that studies comparing minimally invasive with the corresponding open operations are available only for selected procedures. We evaluated all available MAs comparing MIS with the corresponding open procedure in pediatric surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 A literature search was performed on all MAs listed on PubMed. All analyses published in English, comparing pediatric minimally invasive with the corresponding open procedures, were included. End points were advantages and disadvantages of MIS. Results of 43 manuscripts were included. MAs evaluating the minimally invasive with the corresponding open procedures were available for 11 visceral, 4 urologic, and 3 thoracoscopic types of procedures. Studies included 34 randomized controlled trials. In 77% of MAs, at least one advantage of MIS was identified. The most common advantages of MIS were a shorter hospital stay in 20, a shorter time to feeding in 11, and a lower complication rate in 7 MAs. In 53% of MAs, at least one disadvantage of MIS was found. The most common disadvantages were longer operation duration in 16, a higher recurrence rate of diaphragmatic hernia in 4, and gastroesophageal reflux in 2 MAs. A lower native liver survival rate after laparoscopic Kasai-portoenterostomy was reported in one MA.

CONCLUSION

 In the available MAs, the advantages of MIS seem to outnumber the disadvantages. However, for some types of procedures, MIS may have considerable disadvantages. More randomized controlled trials are required to confirm the advantage of MIS for most procedures.

Predictive factors for time to full enteral feeding after pyloromyotomy for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

Background

The aim of the study was to evaluate how different parameters in the preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative period affect time to full enteral feeding (TFEF) in children undergoing pyloromyotomy.

Methods

A retrospective study of all children operated for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis between 2001 and 2017 was conducted. Parameters in demographics and in the preoperative and postoperative period were evaluated against TFEF (hours) using linear regression models.

Results

In the whole cohort of 175 children, mean TFEF was 47 hours with Standard Deviation (SD) of ±35. In the multivariate model, TFEF decreased with age [beta (B): −0.62; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) −1.05 to −0.19; p=0.005) and increased with the presence of severe underlying disease (congenital heart defect or syndrome) (B: 26.5; 95% CI 3.3 to 49.7; p=0.026). Hence, for every day of age, the time to fully fed decreased by 0.6 hour, and the presence of an underlying disease increased the time to fully fed with over one day. TFEF did not seem to be affected by prematurity, weight loss, symptom duration, preoperative acid/base balance or electrolyte values, surgical method, or method of postoperative feeding.

Conclusions

TFEF decreased with higher age and increased in children with a severe underlying disease. These results may be useful in providing adequate parental information regarding what affects TFEF and the length of hospital stay.

Comparison of laparoscopic and open pyloromyotomy: Concerns for omental herniation at port sites after the laparoscopic approach

Pyloromyotomy is a common surgical procedure in infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis and can be performed with a small laparotomy or laparoscopically. No specific complications have been documented about one of the approaches. We aim to study (severity of) complications of pyloromyotomy and to compare complications of both approaches. Children undergoing pyloromyotomy between 2007 and 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. Complication severity was classified using the Clavien-Dindo classification. We included 474 infants (236 open; 238 laparoscopic). 401 were male (85%) and median (IQR) age was 33 (19) days. There were 83 surgical complications in 71 patients (15.0%). In the open group 45 infants (19.1%) experienced a complication vs. 26 infants in the laparoscopic group (10.5%)(p = 0.013). Severity and quantity of postoperative complications were comparable between both groups. Serosal tears of the stomach (N = 19) and fascial dehiscence (N = 8) occurred only after open pyloromyotomy. Herniation of omentum through a port site occurred only after laparoscopy (N = 6) and required re-intervention in all cases. In conclusion, the surgical complication rate of pyloromyotomy was 15.0%. Serosal tear of the stomach and fascial dehiscence are only present after open pyloromyotomy and omental herniation after laparoscopy respectively. The latter complication is underestimated and requires attention.

Laparoscopic vs. Open Pyloromyotomy in Treatment of Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis

Background/Purpose: Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy gained wide popularity in management of pyloric stenosis with contradictory results regarding its benefits over classic open approach. This study aimed at comparing both regarding their safety, efficiency, and outcome. Methods: This is a prospective randomized controlled study performed from April 2017 to April 2019. It included 80 patients, divided randomly into two groups, where laparoscopic pyloromyotomy was performed in group A and open pyloromyotomy in group B. Both groups were compared regarding operative time, post-operative pain score, time required to reach full feeding, hospital stay, complications, and parents' satisfaction. Results: Median operative time was 21 min in group A vs. 30 min in group B (P = 0). Pain Assessment in Neonates scores were generally higher in group B with more doses of analgesics required (P = 0). Mean time needed to reach full feeding was 15.2 and 18.8 h in groups A and B, respectively (P = 0). Median hospital stay was 19 h in group A and 22 h in group B (P = 0.004). Parents' satisfaction also was in favor of group A (P = 0.045). Although no significant difference was reported between both groups regarding early and late complications, some complications such as mucosal perforation and incomplete pyloromyotomy occurred in the laparoscopic group only. Conclusion: Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy was found superior to open approach regarding faster operative time, less need of analgesics, easier development of oral feeding, shorter hospital stay, and better parents' satisfaction. Yet, there are still some concerns about the safety and efficiency of this procedure over open technique.

Idiopathic Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis with Complete Ladd's Band: A Rare Association

A male infant aged 45 days presented with projectile nonbilious vomiting for 2 weeks. Ultrasound showed picture of idiopathic hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy was done, but postoperative vomiting that was mainly nonbilious continued without improvement. After 4 days of persistent vomiting, laparoscopic exploration was done and complete pyloromyotomy was confirmed and malrotation with complete Ladd's band was found, then case converted to open laparotomy and Ladd's procedure was done. Postoperatively, vomiting stopped completely and baby began gradual feeding till reaching full feed. Despite that the presentation of concurrent Idiopathic Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis with malrotation is extremely rare; a formal laparoscopic abdominal exploration should be done as the first step before proceeding to pyloromyotomy.

Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: a survey of 407 children

INTRODUCTION

Pyloromyotomy is the standard care for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. The traditional approach for this procedure is a right upper quadrant transverse incision, although other "open" approaches, such as circumumbilical or periumbilical incision have been described. The more recent approach used is laparoscopic pyloromyotomy (LP), but experience feedback is still debated and its benefits remain unproven. The aim of this study was to make a review of all our LP procedures with an objective evaluation according to the literature.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of all the LPs performed in one University Children's Hospital between 1 January 1996, and 30 December 2015 was realized. Information regarding the patient's status, intraoperative and postoperative data was analyzed.

RESULTS

407 patients were included in this study. The mean operative time of the overall procedure was 24 ± 13 min, which significantly increased with the length of the pyloric muscle (p = 0.004) and significantly impacted the full feeding time (p = 0.006). 3.4% required conversion to an open procedure during the LP. We observed a significant correlation between conversion for mucosal perforation and weight loss (p = 0.04) and between conversion for mucosal perforation and preoperative weight (p = 0.002). A redo procedure was indicated in 3.7%, for incomplete pyloromyotomy each time. The mean postoperative hospital length of stay for all procedures was 1.6 ± 0.8 days. There were no inflammatory scars. None had incisional hernias or wound dehiscence.

DISCUSSION

LP procedure appeared to be as quick as the open procedure. Our results were similar to others series for intraoperative complications. According to operative time, this technique does not have an impact on operative room utilization. Vomiting duration at presentation in HPS does not seem to have a significant impact on postoperative outcomes. LP procedure causes little pain during the postoperative period. No wound complications were registered.

Trends and surgical outcomes of laparoscopic versus open pyloromyotomy

BACKGROUND

Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) is one of the most common pediatric illnesses necessitating surgical intervention. Controversy remains over the optimal surgical approach between laparoscopic pyloromyotomy (LP) and open pyloromyotomy (OP). LP has gained acceptance for management of HPS in an era of expanding minimal access surgical approaches to pediatric conditions. Several studies suggest advantages of LP over OP; however, selection bias and small sample sizes remain a concern. This study compares the outcomes of LP versus OP using propensity score methods.

METHODS

The 2013-2015 ACS NSQIP Pediatric PUF was queried for all infants undergoing pyloromyotomy. The trend in the proportion of infants undergoing LP was described and perioperative outcomes between the OP and LP cohorts were compared using propensity score weighted regression models.

RESULTS

4847 infants were identified to have undergone surgical pyloromyotomy. The proportion of LP performed increased significantly from 59% in 2013 to 65.5% in 2015 (p < 0.001). LP was associated with lower overall complications (1.4% vs 2.9%) (OR_adj 0.52, 95% CI 0.34-0.80), surgical site-related complications (1.1% vs 2.1%) (OR_adj 0.52, 95% CI 0.32-0.84), and post-operative length of stay (1.5 days vs 1.9 days) (OR_adj 0.89, 95% CI 0.81-0.98) without significant differences in related re-operation (0.9% vs 0.9%) (OR_adj 1.01, 95% CI 0.52-1.93) or readmissions (1.4% vs 2.1%) (OR_adj 0.73, 95% CI 0.46-1.17).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that LP is increasingly utilized for management of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis and is associated with shorter length of stay, and lower odds of surgical site-specific and overall complications without differences in related re-operations. This study supports LP as a safe and effective method for management of HPS.

Laparoscopic versus open pyloromyotomy in infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To determine whether open or laparoscopic pyloromyotomy is superior for the treatment of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in infants.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL for articles comparing laparoscopic and open procedures. We conducted meta-analyses when possible and described other results narratively.

RESULTS

Our meta-analyses revealed no significant difference in our primary outcome of major complications [risk difference (RD) 0.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.03 to 0.08, P = 0.35, I ² = 55%], or in our secondary outcomes of all perioperative complications (RD -0.01, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.04, P = 0.74, I ² = 0%), operative time [mean difference (MD) 0.68, 95% CI -3.60 to 4.79, P = 0.76, I ² = 86%], and length of stay (MD -2.60, 95% CI -6.05 to 0.86, P = 0.14, I ² = 0%). Laparoscopy was associated with a shorter time to full feeds (standardized mean difference -0.25, 95% CI -0.43 to -0.06, P = 0.009, I ² = 8%) and a slightly higher rate of inadequate pyloromyotomy (RD 0.04, 95% CI 0.00-0.08, P = 0.03, I ² = 0%). Results from one randomized controlled trial indicate a better cosmetic outcome after laparoscopy compared to open procedure.

CONCLUSION

There is no strong evidence to support a recommendation of one procedure over the other; therefore, the choice of laparoscopic or open procedure should be left to the discretion of the surgeon.

Successful combination of endoscopic pyloromyotomy and balloon dilatation for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in an older child: A novel procedure

Background

Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) is a rare cause of gastric outlet obstruction beyond infancy. Ramstedt pyloromyotomy remains the gold standard treatment for HPS. This type of HPS can be managed successfully with pyloromyotomy under laparoscopic or open procedures. Endoscopic pyloric balloon dilation (EPBD) has not been recommended in the treatment of HPS, and there are only a small number of reported cases who had had successful endoscopic pyloromyotomy (EP) for HPS only in infants.

Case presentation

The patient was suspected of having HPS when the patient was 1 year old after infancy. However, his parents thought that the vomiting and poor sucking were caused by Down syndrome-associated muscular hypotonia. Since then, no additional tests have been performed at their request. At 6 years of age, he was readmitted to our department because of persistent vomiting and failure to thrive, and HPS was diagnosed again. However, it was unknown whether the HPS had been persisting since infancy or was acquired. The first EPBD was slightly effective but did not remain effective for a long time. When the second EPBD was performed in combination with EP, the amount and frequency of vomiting were reduced dramatically.

Conclusions

The combination of EP and EPBD procedure may represent a safe, effective, and minimally invasive option for selected HPS patients in whom laparotomy would pose a significant risk or who do not respond to conventional medical treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe combination treatment with EP and EPBD in an older child with HPS.

Complications in common general pediatric surgery procedures

Complications related to general pediatric surgery procedures are a major concern for pediatric surgeons and their patients. Although infrequent, when they occur the consequences can lead to significant morbidity and psychosocial stress. The purpose of this article is to discuss the common complications encountered during several common pediatric general surgery procedures including inguinal hernia repair (open and laparoscopic), umbilical hernia repair, laparoscopic pyloromyotomy, and laparoscopic appendectomy.

[Minimally invasive surgery in childhood]

Similar to surgery in adults, minimally invasive techniques have also become established in pediatric surgery for a wide variety of indications and partially replaced the corresponding conventional open surgical procedures. This applies not only to laparoscopy for abdominal surgical interventions but also to thoracoscopic procedures. The therapy spectrum in pediatric surgery includes all congenital and acquired diseases of the growing organism, from neonates to adolescents and for this reason the indications that are suitable for minimally invasive surgical procedures are corresponding versatile. According to the literature almost every operation in pediatric surgery was performed via a minimally invasive access route. Of course, not every generally feasible minimally invasive technique can be considered as being suitable to replace proven and established open conventional procedures in pediatric surgery.

Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy decreases postoperative length of stay in children with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of laparoscopic versus open pyloromyotomy on postoperative length of stay (LOS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The 2013 National Surgical Quality Improvement Project Pediatric database was queried for all cases of pyloromyotomy performed on children <1year old with congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Demographics, clinical, and perioperative characteristics for patients with and without a prolonged postoperative LOS, defined as >1day, were compared. Logistic regression modeling was performed to identify factors associated with a prolonged postoperative LOS.

RESULTS

Out of 1143 pyloromyotomy patients, 674 (59%) underwent a laparoscopic procedure. Patients undergoing open pyloromyotomy had a longer operative time (median 28 vs. 25min, p<0.001) but shorter duration of general anesthesia (median 72 vs. 78min, p<0.001). Patients undergoing open pyloromyotomy more frequently had a prolonged postoperative LOS (32% vs. 26%, p=0.019). Factors independently associated with postoperative LOS >1day included open pyloromyotomy (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, p-value) (1.38, 1.03-1.84, p=0.030), cardiac comorbidity (3.64, 1.45-9.14, p=0.006), pulmonary comorbidity (3.47, 1.15-10.46, p=0.027), lower weight (1.005 per 100g decrease, 1.002-1.007, p<0.001), longer preoperative LOS (1.35 per additional day, 1.13-1.62, p=0.001), longer operative time (1.11 per additional 5min, 1.05-1.17, p<0.001), higher preoperative blood urea nitrogen (1.04 per additional mg/dl, 1.01-1.07, p=0.012), and higher serum sodium (1.08 per additional mg/dl, 1.03-1.14, p=0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to laparoscopic pyloromyotomy, open pyloromyotomy is independently associated with a higher likelihood of a prolonged postoperative LOS.

Top to Bottom: A New Method for Assessing Adequacy of Laparoscopic Pyloromyotomy

INTRODUCTION

Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is a commonly encountered pediatric surgical issue. Initially treated with open surgical techniques, many pediatric surgeons have adopted the minimally invasive approach using laparoscopy. However, some concerns exist that the rate of incomplete pyloromyotomy is elevated in laparoscopy. We propose a new technique to assess the adequacy of laparoscopic pyloromyotomy.

METHODS

Adequacy of laparoscopic pyloromyotomy was assessed by confirming that the top of the serosa on one side of the pylorus has adequate freedom to reach the bottom of the muscle on other side. A retrospective review of patients undergoing laparoscopic pyloromyotomy confirmed by this method from March 2012 to January 2016 was conducted. Demographics, laboratory values on admission, and postoperative outcomes were collected. Descriptive statistics was utilized.

RESULTS

Thirty-three patients were included. Median age was 30 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 24, 47). Median pylorus length and thickness were 19 mm (IQR 17.3, 21) and 4.5 mm (IQR: 4.0, 4.8), respectively. Median time to first full feed was 8.5 hours (IQR: 6.6, 15.6). Twenty-three (69%) patients had postoperative emesis. Median length of stay postoperation was 26.5 hours (IQR: 21.1, 44.7). There were no reoperations for incomplete pyloromyotomy and no infections. On follow-up, 1 patient had prolonged postoperative emesis that resolved without further intervention and 1 patient on peritoneal dialysis before surgery had an incisional hernia that required operation in the setting of bilateral inguinal hernias.

CONCLUSION

In a small series, the top to bottom assessment appears to confirm adequacy of pyloromyotomy.

Perioperative care of infants with pyloric stenosis

Pyloric stenosis (PS) is one of the most common surgical conditions affecting neonates and young infants. The definitive treatment for PS is surgical pyloromyotomy, either open or laparoscopic. However, surgical intervention should never be considered urgent or emergent. More importantly, emergent medical intervention may be required to correct intravascular volume depletion and electrolyte disturbances. Given advancements in surgical and perioperative care, morbidity and mortality from PS should be limited. However, either may occur related to poor preoperative resuscitation, anesthetic management difficulties, or postoperative complications. The following manuscript reviews the current evidence-based medicine regarding the perioperative care of infants with PS with focus on the preoperative assessment and correction of metabolic abnormalities, intraoperative care including airway management (particularly debate related to rapid sequence intubation), maintenance anesthetic techniques, and techniques for postoperative pain management. Additionally, reports of applications of regional anesthesia for either postoperative pain control or as an alternative to general anesthesia are discussed. Management recommendations are provided whenever possible.

Can a simplified algorithm prevent incomplete laparoscopic pyloromyotomy?

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to analyze an algorithm intended to prevent incomplete pyloromyotomy in 3-port laparoscopic (3TP) and laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS-P) procedures in a teaching hospital.

METHODS

We defined the pyloroduodenal and pyloroantral junctions as anatomical margins prior pyloromyotomy by palpating and coagulating the serosa with the hook cautery instrument. Incomplete pyloromyotomies, mucosa perforations, serosa lacerations, and wound infections were recorded for pediatric surgical trainees (PST) and board-certified pediatric surgeons (BC).

RESULTS

We reviewed the medical files of 233 infants, who underwent LESS-P (n=21), 3TP (n=71), and open pyloromyotomy (OP, n=141). No incomplete pyloromyotomies occurred. In contrast to OP, mucosa perforations did not occur in the laparoscopic procedures during the study period (6.38% vs. 0%, P=.013). OP had insignificantly more serosal lacerations (3.5% vs. 1.4%, P=.407). There was no difference in the rate of wound infections between OP and laparoscopic procedures (2.8% vs. 4.3%, P=.715). In the latter, all wound infections were associated with the use of skin adhesive.

CONCLUSIONS

This algorithm helps avoiding incomplete laparoscopic pyloromyotomy during the learning curve and in a teaching setting. It is not risky to assist 3TP and LESS-P to PST as this led to a decreased rate of mucosa perforations without experiencing incomplete pyloromyotomies.

Are paediatric operations evidence based? A prospective analysis of general surgery practice in a teaching paediatric hospital

BACKGROUND/AIM

Paediatric surgical practice should be based upon solid scientific evidence. A study in 1998 (Baraldini et al., Pediatr Surg Int) indicated that only a quarter of paediatric operations were supported by the then gold standard of evidence based medicine (EBM) which was defined by randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The aim of the current study was to re-evaluate paediatric surgical practice 16 years after the previous study in a larger cohort of patients.

METHODS

A prospective observational study was performed in a tertiary level teaching hospital for children. The study was approved by the local research ethics board. All diagnostic and therapeutic procedures requiring a general anaesthetic carried out over a 4-week period (24 Feb 2014-22 Mar 2014) under the general surgery service or involving a general paediatric surgeon were included in the study. Pubmed and EMBASE were used to search in the literature for the highest level of evidence supporting the recorded procedures. Evidence was classified according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine (OCEBM) 2009 system as well as according to the classification used by Baraldini et al. Results was compared using Χ (2) test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

During the study period, 126 operations (36 different types) were performed on 118 patients. According to the OCEBM classification, 62 procedures (49 %) were supported by systematic reviews of multiple homogeneous RCTs (level 1a), 13 (10 %) by individual RCTs (level 1b), 5 (4 %) by systematic reviews of cohort studies (level 2a), 11 (9 %) by individual cohort studies, 1 (1 %) by systematic review of case-control studies (level 3a), 14 (11 %) by case-control studies (level 3b), 9 (7 %) by case series (type 4) and 11 procedures (9 %) were based on expert opinion or deemed self-evident interventions (type 5). High level of evidence (OCEBM level 1a or 1b or level I according to Baraldini et al. PSI 1998) supported 75 (60 %) operations in the current study compared to 18 (26 %) in the study of 1998 (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The present study shows that nowadays a remarkable number of paediatric surgical procedures are supported by high level of evidence. Despite this improvement in evidence-based paediatric surgical practice, more than a third of the procedures still lack sufficient evidence-based literature support. More RCTs are warranted to support and direct paediatric surgery practice according to the principals of EBM.

Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy: Lessons learnt in our first 101 cases

Aim:

To analyze our experience with laparoscopic pyloromyotomy for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis for the lessons that we learnt and to study the effect of learning curve.

Materials and Methods:

This is a retrospective analysis of case records of 101 infants who underwent laparoscopic pyloromyotomy over 6 years. The demographic characteristics, conversion rate, operative time, complications, time to first feed and post-operative hospital stay were noted. The above parameters were compared between our early cases (2007-2009) (n = 43) and the later cases (2010-2013) (n = 58).

Results:

89 male and 12 female babies ranging in age from 12 days to 4 months (mean: 43.4 days) were operated upon during this period. The babies ranged in weight from 1.8 to 4.7 kg (mean: 3.1 kg). Four cases were converted to open (3.9%): three due to mucosal perforations and one due to technical problem. The mean operative time was 45.7 minutes (49.7 minutes in the first 3 years and 43.0 minutes in the next 3 years). There were 10 complications-4 mucosal perforations, 5 inadequate pyloromyotomies and 1 omental prolapse through a port site. All the complications were effectively handled with minimum morbidity. In the first 3 years of our experience the conversion rate was 9.3%, mucosal perforations were 6.9% and re-do rate was 2.3% as compared to 0%, 1.7% and 6.9%, respectively, in the next 3 years. Mean time for starting feeds was 21.4 hours and mean post-operative hospital stay was 2.4 days.

Conclusion:

Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy is a safe procedure with minimal morbidity and reasonable operative times. Conversion rates and operative times decrease as experience increases. Our rate of inadequate pyloromyotomy was rather high which we hope to decrease with further experience.

Risk of incomplete pyloromyotomy and mucosal perforation in open and laparoscopic pyloromyotomy

BACKGROUND

Despite randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses, it remains unclear whether laparoscopic pyloromyotomy (LP) carries a higher risk of incomplete pyloromyotomy and mucosal perforation compared with open pyloromyotomy (OP).

METHODS

Multicenter study of all pyloromyotomies (May 2007-December 2010) at nine high-volume institutions. The effect of laparoscopy on the procedure-related complications of incomplete pyloromyotomy and mucosal perforation was determined using binomial logistic regression adjusting for differences among centers.

RESULTS

Data relating to 2830 pyloromyotomies (1802 [64%] LP) were analyzed. There were 24 cases of incomplete pyloromyotomy; 3 in the open group (0.29%) and 21 in the laparoscopic group (1.16%). There were 18 cases of mucosal perforation; 3 in the open group (0.29%) and 15 in the laparoscopic group (0.83%). The regression model demonstrated that LP was a marginally significant predictor of incomplete pyloromyotomy (adjusted difference 0.87% [95% CI 0.006-4.083]; P=0.046) but not of mucosal perforation (adjusted difference 0.56% [95% CI -0.096 to 3.365]; P=0.153). Trainees performed a similar proportion of each procedure (laparoscopic 82.6% vs. open 80.3%; P=0.2) and grade of primary operator did not affect the rate of either complication.

CONCLUSIONS

This is one of the largest series of pyloromyotomy ever reported. Although laparoscopy is associated with a statistically significant increase in the risk of incomplete pyloromyotomy, the effect size is small and of questionable clinical relevance. Both OP and LP are associated with low rates of mucosal perforation and incomplete pyloromyotomy in specialist centers, whether trainee or consultant surgeons perform the procedure.

Trocarless laparoscopic pyloromyotomy with conventional instruments: Our experience

BACKGROUND

The incidence of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is approximately 1-3 per 1,000 live births. Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is seen more often in males, with a male-to female ratio of 4:1. Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy is becoming increasingly popular as the standard treatment for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We describe our initial experience with laparoscopic pyloromyotomy in 16 infants using conventional laparoscopic instruments. Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy was performed through 5-mm umbilical port with 5mm 30 endoscope. Two 3-mm working instruments were inserted directly into the abdomen via separate lateral incisions.

RESULTS

All patients were prospectively evaluated. The procedure was performed in 16 infants with a mean age of 36 days and mean weight of 3.1 kg. All procedures, except two, were completed laparoscopically with standard instruments. Average operating time was 28 mins, and average postoperative length of stay was 2.8 days. There were no major intraoperative and postoperative complications.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy can be safely performed by using standard conventional laparoscopic trocarless instruments.

Laparoscopic treatment of intussusception in children: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic intussusception is one of the most common causes of small bowel obstruction in children. In the event of failed radiological reduction, laparotomy remains the treatment of choice. There is still no agreement in pediatric surgery about safety and effectiveness of the use of minimally invasive surgery in this common pediatric condition. By reviewing available data we aimed to establish whether laparoscopy should be the primary technique in the surgical reduction of intussusception.

METHODS

A systematic review of all publications on the laparoscopic treatment of pediatric intussusception from January 1990 to April 2012 was performed. The following variables were analyzed: age, laparoscopic success rate, reason for conversion, enterotomy rate, operative time, complications, and length of stay (LOS).

RESULTS

Ten retrospective studies treating 276 cases of laparoscopically reduced intussusception were identified. A total of 80 conversions corresponded to a 71.0% laparoscopic success rate. Only one case of intraoperative iatrogenic intestinal perforation was reported (0.4%). Postoperative complications occurred in 8 patients (2.9%), and adhesive small bowel obstruction was reported in 1 case (0.4%). Recurrence rate after laparoscopy was 3.6%. Three of 10 papers compared results between laparoscopic and open reduction of intussusception showing a shorter mean LOS in the former group (4.0 vs. 7.1 days, p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopy is safe and effective in the treatment of pediatric intussusception. Tertiary centers with adequate minimally invasive skills should establish laparoscopy as the primary surgical technique in the treatment of this condition.

[Video-assisted surgery in children: current progress and future perspectives]

This review presents the evidence of video-assisted surgery in the pediatric population and discusses future progress in this field. Videosurgery minimizes the cosmetic impact and the pain induced by open procedures and has been in constant development in adults and children. Earlier training of surgeons and residents combined with advances in anesthetics and technology have expanded the use of videosurgery for more complex interventions. Although most feasible surgical procedures have been performed by laparoscopy, the literature has not yet defined it as the gold standard for most interventions, especially because of the lack of evidence for many of them. However, laparoscopy for cholecystectomy is now the preferred approach with excellent postoperative outcomes and few complications. Although no evidence has been demonstrated in children, laparoscopy has been shown to be superior in adults for gastroesophageal reflux disease and splenectomy. Laparoscopic appendectomy remains controversial. Nevertheless, meta-analyses have concluded in moderate but significant advantages in terms of pain, cosmetic considerations, and recovery for the laparoscopic approach. Laparoscopy is now adopted for undescended testes and allows both localization and surgical treatment if necessary. For benign conditions, videosurgery can be an excellent tool for nephrectomy and adrenalectomy. However, laparoscopy remains controversial in pediatric surgical oncology.

Congenital pyloric mucosal fold resulting in an antral valve outflow obstruction in a bull terrier

An under-sized three-month-old female bull terrier was referred with a history of regurgitation since three days of age. Thoracic radiographs were unremarkable, while abdominal radiographs showed a distended stomach, despite a 12 hour fast. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed gastric outflow obstruction of unclear aetiology. Coeliotomy was performed, during which an excessive mucosal fold at the pyloric antrum was excised. Histopathology of the pyloric fold revealed mild oedema and fibrosis of the mucosal tissue. The dog made a complete recovery, with resolution of regurgitation and grew to within the expected breed size. In the authors' opinion, this is the first canine report of congenital antral mucosal valve resulting in gastric outflow obstruction, and only the second report in any species.

The timing of ostomy closure in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis: a systematic review

PURPOSE

The optimal timing of ostomy closure is a matter of debate. We performed a systematic review of outcomes of early ostomy closure (EC, within 8 weeks) and late ostomy closure (LC, after 8 weeks) in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis.

METHODS

PubMed, EMbase, Web-of-Science, and Cinahl were searched for studies that detailed time to ostomy closure, and time to full enteral nutrition (FEN) or complications after ostomy closure. Patients with Hirschsprung's disease or anorectal malformations were excluded. Analysis was performed using SPSS 17 and RevMan 5.

RESULTS

Of 778 retrieved articles, 5 met the inclusion criteria. The median score for study quality was 9 [range 8-14 on a scale of 0 to 32 points (Downs and Black, J Epidemiol Community Health 52:377-384, 1998)]. One study described mean time to FEN: 19.1 days after EC (n = 13) versus 7.2 days after LC (n = 24; P = 0.027). Four studies reported complication rates after ostomy closure, complications occurred in 27% of the EC group versus 23% of the LC group. The combined odds ratio (LC vs. EC) was 1.1 [95% CI 0.5, 2.5].

CONCLUSION

Evidence that supports early or late closure is scarce and the published articles are of poor quality. There is no significant difference between EC versus LC in the complication rate. This systematic review supports neither early nor late ostomy closure.

Does number of ports affect outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic pyloromyotomy? Retrospective chart-review study

Background. Although open Ramstedt's pyloromyotomy is the gold standard for the surgical management of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, laparoscopic pyloromyotomy has been found highly successful. Various factors, however, can affect the outcomes of surgical interventions in these patients. We observed a relationship between the number of ports used and outcome in patients undergoing laparoscopic pyloromyotomies. Methods. We retrospectively assessed the medical records of selected group of patients who underwent laparoscopic pyloromyotomy in our institution. Factors analyzed included operation time, length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, and time to postoperative full feeding. Results. We observed failure of myotomy in both two patients who underwent laparoscopic pyloromyotomy using only two working ports compared to successful myotomies in the remaining patients. Conclusion. Laparoscopy provides good results in terms of intraoperative exposure and cosmesis. However, standardized surgical technique with two working ports is advisable, and this can trigger further research to be ascertained.

Cost-effectiveness of laparoscopic versus open pyloromyotomy

BACKGROUND

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis can be corrected by either open (OP) or laparoscopic pyloromyotomy (LP). LP may provide clinical benefits of reduced time to postoperative full feeds and reduced postoperative inpatient stay, but the cost effectiveness is not known. Our aim was to compare the cost effectiveness of laparoscopic and open pyloromyotomy.

METHODS

OP and LP were compared in a multicenter randomized double-blind controlled trial, for which the primary outcomes were time to full feeds and time to discharge. In order to undertake a detailed cost analysis, we assigned costs, calculated on an individual patient basis, to laboratory costs, imaging, medical staff, medication, ward, operative, and outpatient appointments for 74 patients recruited from one of the participating centers. Data (mean ± SEM) were compared using linear regression analysis, adjusting for the minimization criteria used in the trial.

RESULTS

Operation costs were similar between the two groups ($3,276 ± $244 LP versus $3,535 ± $152 OP). A shorter time to full feeds and shorter hospital stay in LP versus OP patients resulted in a highly significant difference in ward costs ($2,650 ± $126 LP versus $3,398 ± $126 OP; P = .001) and a small difference in other costs. Overall, LP patients were $1,263 (95% confidence interval $395-$2,130; P = .005) less expensive to treat than OP patients. Sensitivity analyses of laparoscopic hardware usage and of incomplete pyloromyotomy indicated that LP was consistently less expensive than OP.

CONCLUSIONS

LP is a cost-effective alternative to OP as it delivers improved clinical outcome at a lower price.

Open versus laparoscopic pyloromyotomy for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis focusing on major complications

Background

There is an ongoing debate about whether laparoscopic pyloromyotomy (LP) or open pyloromyotomy (OP) is the best option for treating hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS). The aim of this study was to compare the results of both surgical strategies by means of a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available literature.

Methods

A systematic search for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing OP and LP was conducted. Studies were reviewed independently for quality, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and outcomes. Primary outcome was major postoperative complications (i.e., incomplete pyloromyotomy, perforation, and need for reoperation). Secondary outcomes were time to full feed, postoperative hospital stay, and any other postoperative complications.

Results

Four RCTs with a total of 502 patients (OP 255, LP 247) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in this review. These trials showed an absolute incidence of major postoperative complications of 4.9% in the LP group. Meta-analysis showed that LP did not lead to significantly more major postoperative complications (ARR 3%, 95% CI −3 to 8%) than OP. The mean difference in time to full feed was significant (2.27 h, 95% CI −4.26 to −0.29 h) and the mean difference in postoperative hospital stay tended to be shorter (2.41 h, 95% CI −6.10 to 1.28 h), both in favor of LP.

Conclusion

So far, the major postoperative complication rate after LP for HPS is not substantially higher than after OP. Because time to full feed and postoperative hospital stay are at best a few hours shorter after LP than after OP, the laparoscopic technique might be acknowledged as the standard of care if the major postoperative complication rate is low. Hence, this laparoscopic procedure should preferably be performed in centers with pediatric surgeons with expertise in this procedure.

Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy: is a knife really necessary?

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy (LP) is currently accepted as a suitable treatment modality for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). In this report, we describe some technical modifications of LP using a 3- or 5-mm hook with electrocautery as a substitute for a knife for incising the pylorus. The outcomes of LP using a standard retractable pyloromyotomy knife are compared with those of LP using a hook electrocautery.

METHODS

The patients with ultrasound proven IHPS who had undergone LP in a single institution from December 2008 to April 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Incision on the pylorus was made with a 3-mm pyloromyotomy knife in the initial 12 cases. However, in the latter part of the study, a 3- or 5-mm hook with electrocautery was used for the incision. A Maryland dissector was used for completing the pyloromyotomy. The results were compared in terms of duration of surgery, complications, time taken to establish the first full feed, requirement of analgesics, postoperative emesis, and postoperative stay in the hospital. Independent sample t test and the Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 27 patients analyzed, 12 underwent LP using a pyloromyotomy knife and the remaining 15 patients were operated on using a hook with electrocautery instead of the knife. The operating time, time taken to establish the first full feed, and duration of hospital stay were comparable among the two groups with no statistically significant difference. No complications were recorded in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of hook electrocautery for incising the pylorus provides a bloodless field without affecting the postoperative recovery and outcome. It also obviates any need of specialized instruments like a pyloromyotomy knife or other sharp instruments for pyloric incision.