Umbilical Pyloromyotomy - An Alternative to Laparoscopy?

Abstract

This study has found that umbilical pyloromyotomy can be performed with minimal morbidity and equivalent operating times to laparoscopy. The shorter hospital stay reported in some series promoting laparoscopy must be balanced against local practice influencing hospital stay, the financial implications of offering a laparoscopic service, the skills needed for laparoscopy, and the short learning curve required by paediatric surgical trainees to become proficient at umbilical pyloromyotomy. The cosmesis of the umbilical incision is excellent. These findings suggest that umbilical pyloromyotomy is a reliable alternative to laparoscopy.