Pyloric stenosis in adults.

Pyloric stenosis is defined as an obstruction to gastric emptying due to any cause situated above .he biliary ampulla. This article is concerned with the clinical features, metabolic disorder, assessment and treatment of patients with pyloric stenosis; anatomical narrowing of the pyloric canal without delay in gastric emptying is not considered. In adults, symptoms due to the underlying lesion may precede by weeks, months or years those due to obstruction and contribute to the clinical picture to a varying degree. Pyloric stenosis is unique among gastro-intestinal disorders which produce electrolyte disturbances in the constancy with which it causes extracellular alkalosis and it is this aspect of the condition that has received most attention in recent years.