Pyloric stenosis

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Digestive system

Pyloric stenosis

Definition:

Pyloric stenosis is a narrowing of the outlet from the stomach to the small intestine (called the pylorus). The condition primarily occurs in infants.

Alternative Names:

Congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis; Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis; Gastric outlet obstruction

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

This condition is caused by a thickening of the muscles of the pylorus. This prevents the stomach from emptying into the small intestine.

The cause of the thickening is unknown, although genetic factors may play a role. It occurs more commonly in boys than in girls and is rare in patients older than 6 months.

Approximately 2 to 3 of every 1,000 infants has pyloric stenosis.

Review Date: 6/18/2004
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial and Jonathan Fanaroff, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (12/30/2002).

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