Intraumbilical longitudinal incision safer than conventional approach while performing pyloromyotomy

A new study published in the The Tokai Journal of Experimental and Clinical Medicine found that pyloromyotomy performed through the intraumbilical longitudinal incision was as safe as supraumbilical incision and aids in improving cosmetic results.

Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is a condition commonly found in infants, characterized by the thickening of the muscles in the pylorus, leading to feeding difficulties and vomiting. Surgical intervention, known as pyloromyotomy, is often required to treat this condition. In 2012, a new transumbilical approach utilizing an intraumbilical longitudinal incision was introduced. 

A recent study by Suzuki and team, sought to evaluate the outcomes of pyloromyotomy using the intraumbilical longitudinal incision approach compared to the conventional supraumbilical incision. They reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent transumbilical pyloromyotomy between 2005 and 2018.

The study included 24 patients in the intraumbilical group and 28 patients in the supraumbilical group. The findings revealed that the median operative time was slightly longer in the intraumbilical group, with a statistically significant difference (58.0 minutes vs. 43.5 minutes, p = 0.002). However, the time to full feeding did not significantly differ between the two groups. Notably, the median postoperative stay was shorter in the intraumbilical group (3 days vs. 5.5 days, p = 0.003).