Possible Complications

What to Expect

Call Your Doctor

En Español

Pyloroplasty—Adult

(Pyloric Stenosis Repair; Pyloromyotomy)

Pronounced: py-LOR-oh-plah-stee, py-LOR-ik stuh-NOH-sis, py-LOR-oh-MY-ah-ta-me

by Daus Mahnke, MD

Definition

Pyloroplasty is a surgery to correct a narrowing of the pyloric sphincter. The pylorus is a muscular area that forms a channel between the stomach and intestine. Normally, food passes easily from the stomach into the intestine through this sphincter.

Reasons for Procedure

The pylorus sphincter can become narrowed, usually from an enlargement of the muscle. The condition is called pyloric stenosis. It can cause severe symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. Narrowing of the pylorus can be the result of scarring from ulcers, a hiatal hernia, inflammatory diseases, or a mass, such as cancer.

Pyloric stenosis may be a serious condition. Pyloroplasty is often necessary to treat it.

Possible Complications

Problems from the procedure are rare, but all procedures have some risk. Your doctor will review potential problems, like:

Bleeding
Infection
Damage to intestines
Hernia formation at the incision site
Chronic diarrhea

Before your procedure, talk to your doctor about ways to manage factors that may increase your risk of complications such as:

Smoking
Drinking
Chronic disease such as diabetes or obesity

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

Talk to your doctor about your medications. You may be asked to stop taking some medications up to one week before the procedure.
If you have diabetes, discuss your medications with your doctor.
Your doctor may order a laxative. This will help you clean out your intestines.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.

Anesthesia

Your surgery will be done using general anesthesia. You will be asleep.

Description of Procedure

An incision will be made in the upper part of your abdomen. The pylorus will be exposed. A cut will be made in the muscle of the pylorus. The sphincter will be sewn back together in a way that will make the opening wider. The abdominal muscles will be sewn back together. The skin will be closed with stitches or staples.

If your pyloroplasty is done because you have an ulcer, other procedures may be done at the same time.

Immediately After Procedure

After the surgery, you will be monitored in a recovery area for about 1-2 hours.

How Long Will It Take?

About 1-2 hours

How Much Will It Hurt?

Anesthesia will prevent pain during surgery. Pain and discomfort after the procedure can be managed with medications.

Average Hospital Stay

The usual length of stay is 1-3 days. Your doctor may choose to keep you longer if complications arise.

Post-procedure Care

At the Hospital

You will gradually return to a normal diet. Before you go home, you will be taught how to care for your surgical incision.

Preventing Infection

During your stay, the hospital staff will take steps to reduce your chance of infection such as:

Washing their hands
Wearing gloves or masks
Keeping your incisions covered

There are also steps you can take to reduce your chance of infection such as:

Washing your hands often and reminding visitors and healthcare providers to do the same
Reminding your healthcare providers to wear gloves or masks
Not allowing others to touch your incision

Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if any of these occur:

Signs of infection, including fever and chills
Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding or any discharge from the incision site
Persistent nausea or vomiting
Pain that you cannot control with the medications you were given
Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
Severe abdominal pain or vomiting blood
Dark-colored, tarry stools or blood in the stool

If you think you have an emergency, call for emergency medical services right away.

RESOURCES:

American College of Gastroenterology
http://gi.org

Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
https://familydoctor.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Association of Gastroenterology
https://www.cag-acg.org

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca

References:

Dimitrios M, Geis WP, Ginalis EM, Gorcey SA, Stratoulias C. Laparoscopic pyloroplasty in idiopathic hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in an adult. JSLS. 2000;4(2):173–175.

Pyloroplasty. Encyclopedia of Surgery website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed January 10, 2018.

6/2/2011 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed... : Mills E, Eyawo O, Lockhart I, Kelly S, Wu P, Ebbert JO. Smoking cessation reduces postoperative complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Med. 2011;124(2):144-154.

Last reviewed November 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Daus Mahnke, MD
Last Updated: 12/20/2014

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