The ultrasound is done and shows that your baby's pyloric muscle has a thickness of greater than 4mm and a pyloric length greater than 16mm, which means that he has hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, a common cause of projectile vomiting at this age.
You learn that pyloric stenosis is the most common cause of gastroesophageal obstruction in newborns, occuring in about 1 in 250 to 500 infants. Although it is often diagnosed at about 3 weeks of age, it can occur anywhere from 1 week to 5 months. In this condition, the pylorus, or muscular outlet of the stomach becomes enlarged, so that breastmilk or formula can't empty out of the stomach and is vomited up instead.
Although many infants with pyloric stenosis have electrolyte problems, your child's blood work is normal, he is easily rehydrated, and he is scheduled for surgery to repair the pyloric stenosis.
After meeting with the Pediatric Surgeon, you learn that he will need a pyloromyotomy, in which the pyloric muscle is cut or spread open to enlarge it.
Your baby's surgery goes well and he is back to breastfeeding well and is home in a few days.
Although the cause of pyloric stenosis isn't known, you find out that your baby had many risk factors, including being a first born male (pyloric stenosis is more common in boys than girls), having a possible family history since dad may have had it too, and having taken erythromycin, which has recently been associated with pyloric stenosis.
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