Comparison of the incidence of complications in open and laparoscopic pyloromyotomy: a concurrent single institution series.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence and type of technical complications seen in a concurrent series of pyloromyotomies done open and laparoscopically.

METHODS

The medical records of all patients who underwent pyloromyotomy for congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis over a 66-month period were reviewed (n = 457). Information obtained included age, sex, weight, operating time, and intraoperative and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Four hundred fifty-seven pyloromyotomies were equivalently divided between the 2 techniques (232 laparoscopic, 225 open). Demographic characteristics and operating times were similar. There were no deaths in the series. The overall incidences of complications were similar in the 2 groups (open, 4.4%; laparoscopic, 5.6%). There was a greater rate of perforation with the open technique and a higher rate of postoperative problems including incomplete pyloromyotomy in the laparoscopic group.

CONCLUSIONS

The open and laparoscopic approaches have similar overall complication rates. The distribution and the type of complications differ, however.