Comparison of the Incidence of Complications in Open and Laparoscopic Pyloromyotomy: A Concurrent Single Institution Series

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence and type of technical complications seen in a concurrent series of pyloromyotomies done open and laparoscopically. Methods: The medical records of all patients who underwent pyloromyotomy for congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis over a 66-month period were reviewed (n = 457). Information obtained included age, sex, weight, operating time, and intraoperative and postoperative complications. Results: Four hundred fifty-seven pyloromyotomies were equivalently divided between the 2 techniques (232 laparoscopic, 225 open). Demographic characteristics and operating times were similar. There were no deaths in the series. The overall incidences of complications were similar in the 2 groups (open, 4.4%; laparoscopic, 5.6%). There was a greater rate of perforation with the open technique and a higher rate of postoperative problems including incomplete pyloromyotomy in the laparoscopic group. Conclusions: The open and laparoscopic approaches have similar overall complication rates. The distribution and the type of complications differ, however.