Pylorospasm: a less common functional disorder mimicking hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, leading to persistent vomiting in a preterm male infant

Historically, pylorospasm is defined as a condition in which the pyloric canal of the infant has a functional obstruction as opposed to an organic one, compared to hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS), a well-known cause of post-feeding and repetitive vomiting in infancy.

We have reported a case of a premature male infant born via surrogacy and fed from a milk bank, whose acute after-meal intermittent vomiting led to a pylorospasm diagnosis. He was successfully treated non-surgically by intravenous (IV) atropine and gained weight.

It has been 61 years since the first use of oral atropine for treating HPS, especially in children with anesthesia or surgery who have restrictions. Subsequently, in limited trials, IV atropine was introduced for its more effective and less complicated nature.

In cases of suspicion of HPS without sonographic evidence, pylorospasm should be kept in mind, and in these conditions, atropine can be a suitable and less complicated therapeutic alternative.