Clinical observations on pyloric stenosis in premature infants.

Little attention has been given in the past to the incidence and clinical features of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in premature infants. We have observed three cases of this disease in very premature infants within a period of 18 months in one of the premature nurseries in the Simpson Maternity Hospital, Edinburgh. These cases are of special interest because continuous clinical records from birth to convalescence are available. The literature contains a considerable number of brief references to pyloric stenosis in premature infants (Bloch, 1907; Steen, 1930; Donovan, 1932; Gallagher, 1937; Sheldon, 1938; Dobbs, 1939; Vickers and Conrad, 1940; Ford, Brown and McCreary, 1941; Levi, 1941; Williams, 1942; Todd, 1946: 1947; Laubscher and Smith, 1947; Josephs and Hendry, 1950), but no detailed clinical records such as these which illustrate the manner of development of the disease, and certain features which appear to be peculiar to premature infants. The smallest premature infant whom we have observed to develop the disease weighed 3 lb. 3 oz. at birth; this infant will not be included in this paper. because the clinical record is less detailed than in the cases of those recorded.