Pyloromyotomy
Dividing the thickened stomach outlet in a baby with projectile vomiting.
What is Pyloromyotomy?
A short operation that divides the thickened muscle at the stomach outlet along its length, leaving the inner lining intact, so milk can pass through again.
Hospital stay
Usually 3 to 5 days in total, including the preparation.
Performed by
Dr. Pratheep Samraj
- Normal
- The problem
Why It Is Done
Surgery is advised in these situations. The decision is always made after examining your child, never from a description.
- Pyloric stenosis has been confirmed on ultrasound
- It is always the treatment — there is no medical alternative in standard practice
Before the Day
- This is the important part: the baby is rehydrated and the salt imbalance corrected first, usually over 24 to 48 hours
- Operating on a dehydrated baby with abnormal electrolytes is genuinely dangerous, so this is treatment, not delay
- A tube keeps the stomach empty and feeds are stopped
During the Operation
- General anaesthetic
- A small incision above the navel, or a laparoscopic approach
- The muscle is split; the lining underneath is left intact
- Around 30 minutes
Afterwards, and at Home
- Feeds restart within hours and are built up over a day or so
- Some vomiting on the first day afterwards is expected and settles
- Home usually within a day or two of surgery
- Babies typically gain weight rapidly and catch up
What Can Go Wrong
- A small tear of the inner lining, recognised and repaired at the time
- Incomplete division needing a further procedure — uncommon
- Wound infection or hernia at the incision
- The anaesthetic risks of operating on a small baby, minimised by correcting fluids first
Every operation carries risk. These are listed openly because a parent consenting to surgery is entitled to know them — not because they are expected. The surgeon will go through which of them actually apply to your child.
Common Questions
If your question is not here, send it on WhatsApp and the hospital team will answer.
Dr. Pratheep Samraj
Consultant Paediatric & Neonatal Surgeon · Palliyadi, Kanyakumari
Super-specialist surgical care for newborns, infants and children, with expertise in paediatric urology, congenital anomalies, gastro-intestinal surgery and minimally invasive surgery.
The operation is small. Getting the fluids right first is what makes it safe.
A baby with projectile vomiting needs 24 to 48 hours of correction before anaesthesia, and that is treatment rather than delay. Bring him in as soon as the vomiting pattern is clear.
Consultation 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM & 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM · 24-hour laboratory & pharmacy
In an emergency — green vomiting in a baby, a groin swelling that will not go back, severe tummy pain, or a newborn not passing urine or meconium — come straight to the hospital or to your nearest emergency department. Do not wait for a reply to a message.