Do Immaturity, Dehydratation or Alkalosis Predispose to Intraoperative Complications at Pyloromyotomy?

Background: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is the most important cause for propulsive non-bilious vomiting in infants of the first trimester. Extramucous splitting of the hypertrophic pyloric muscle is the surgical gold standard for treatment. Serious major complications of pyloromyotomy (PM) are mucosal perforation and incomplete muscle splitting. The aim of the presented study is to find out if intraoperative complications are predisposed by biometric or biochemical factors. Furthermore, we looked for the influence of the board certification of the primary surgeon. Patients and Methods: 162 infants with IHPS were operated during a six-year period (n = 150 laparoscopic operations). We had 8 major complications (4.9%): iatrogenic mucosal perforation occurred in 6 cases, and incomplete PM in 2 infants. Preoperative demographic data and data resulting from the blood acid-baseand ion-analysis were compared with data of a previously published reference group from our institution (Tröbs RB. Open J Pediatr, 2014; 4: 208-215). Results: The duration of vomiting, the grade of dehydration and the severity of blood alkalosis did not differ between both groups. Furthermore, we found no influence of the gestational age and birth weight on the occurrence of intraoperative complications. It seems that early postnatal age (p = 0.07) and low body weight at surgery (p = 0.055) may contribute to surgical problems. Board certification as a paediatric surgeon did not influence the rate of intraoperative complications. Conclusions: Laboratory data did not show any predisposition to intraoperative complications. It is assumed that small infants with early occurring symptoms carry an elevated risk for intraoperative events. Our data support the hypothesis that the rate of intraoperative complications at PM is mainly influenced by skills and experience of the surgeon.