Determinants of good outcome in pyloric stenosis

Good outcome following pyloromyotomy for pyloric stenosis is dependent on the training of the surgeon, availability of a specialist paediatric anaesthetist, and the quality of preoperative correction of fluid and electrolyte abnormalities. Complications (including death, inadvertent duodenal perforation, incomplete pyloromyotomy, wound dehiscence and infection), higher hospital costs and increased length of hospital stay are all more likely to occur when the pyloromyotomy is performed by a surgeon who has had no speciailist paediatric surgical training.