Pyloric atresia: 15-year review from a single institution

Pyloric atresia (PA) is a rare pathology. Calder presented the first pyloric atresia case in 1749 and Touroff, Sussman, Meltz, and their colleagues presented the first successful operation in 1940. PA has 3 types of anatomic variations: (1) type A, pyloric membrane or web; (2) type B, the pyloric channel is a solid cord; and (3) type C, in which there is a gap between the stomach and duodenum. Associated anomalies also have been described. Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and intestinal anomalies occur most often with this condition.

Charts of 16 cases of congenital PA, aged 1 to 30 days and admitted to our department between 1986 and 2001, were studied retrospectively in regard to sex, prenatal diagnosis, presence of polyhydramnios, time of admission, pathology, type of operation, associated anomalies, and mortality rate.

In the study group, the male to female ratio was 5:3, the mean birth weight was 2,312 g and the mean age of admission was 6.5 days. The distribution of the anatomic variations was type A in 9 (56.3%) and type B in 7 (43.7%) of cases. Associated anomalies were present in 7 cases (43.8%). Familial occurrence was a prominent feature of our series. Seven of 16 cases occurred in 3 families. We performed 9 web excisions together with Heineke Mikulicz (H-M) pyloroplasty, 5 atresia excisions and gastro-duodenostomy, and 2 H-M pyloroplasties alone. Stamm gastrostomy was supplemented in 3 cases. The overall mortality rate (n = 9) was 56.3%.

Pyloric atresia can be managed successfully if it is diagnosed early. In this group of patients, congenital anomalies or septicemia are the main causes of mortality.