Over the last hundred years, idiopathic hypertrophic pyloric stenosis has undergone an evolution in treatment, with subsequent improvements in outcome. Initially, it was treated by physicians with antispasmodics and various alternative feeding and resuscitation modalities. The evolution of surgical approaches led to a revolution in outcome, from almost certain death to complete cure. The progression of surgical and medical treatments is reviewed in this article until, ultimately, Ramstedt's pyloromyotomy is reached. This distilled operation has remained the gold-standard procedure for over a century.
Keywords: history of medicine; idiopathic hypertrophic pyloric stenosis; pyloromyotomy.
© 2017 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (The Royal Australasian College of Physicians).