[Surgical treatment of hypertrophic stenosis of the pylorus at a general surgery service].

The authors purpose was to demonstrate that pyloromyotomy can be successfully carried out by nonspecialist surgeons. Eighty three cases admitted over a twelve-year period to the Department of Pediatrics of Montecelo Hospital, a district general hospital, were reviewed. Extramucosal pyloromyotomy was performed by general surgeons under general anaesthesia in all cases. There were no deaths. Three infants had postoperative complications and required treatment. All cases underwent prophylactic antibiotics and no wound infections were recorded. When compared with other published series, our study shows that extramucosal pyloromyotomy can be carried out safely by general surgeons and that prophylactic antibiotic treatment can decrease morbidity. Postoperative complications are not related to damage of the duodenal mucosa or the type of skin incision.