ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Despite good surgical results from right transverse hypochondrial incisions for Ramstedt's pyloromyotomies, children remain concerned by the presence of an obvious and permanent scar. The aim of this study is to compare the results of two approaches. METHODS: Forty-eight infants underwent a Ramstedt pyloromyotomy for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. To facilitate the delivery of the pyloric mass, 22 patients were operated on via a standard right transverse hypochondrial incision and 26 patients via a circumumbilical incision with or without lateral wound extension. These two group were compared retrospectively. RESULTS: The groups did not differ significantly with respect to the length of the hospital stay or the perioperative complications. The circumumbilical incision with lateral wound extension allowed easy access to the pyloric mass without conversion of incisions due to inadequate exposure. All circumumbilical incisions healed well, resulting in an apparently unscarred abdomen. The final good cosmetic result of the circumumbilical incision satisfied all parents. CONCLUSIONS: We propose the circumumbilical incision as an alternative to be used in the operative approach to the pylorus in the treatment of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.