What is a common clinical presentation of congenital pyloric stenosis?

Congenital pyloric stenosis is characterized by the narrowing of the pylorus, the opening from the stomach into the small intestine. This condition typically presents in infants, often between the ages of three and twelve weeks. One of the most distinct clinical symptoms of congenital pyloric stenosis is projectile vomiting.

This vomiting occurs because the narrowed pylorus obstructs the passage of food from the stomach to the intestines, leading to increased pressure in the stomach. As a result, when the stomach contracts to push the contents past the pylorus, the force of the muscular contraction combined with the obstruction can cause the infant to expel the stomach’s contents with significant force, resulting in the characteristic projectile nature of the vomiting.

The projectile vomiting can be alarming for caregivers, and it is typically non-bilious, which means it does not contain bile since the obstruction occurs before the bile duct (which enters the duodenum). This symptom is a key indicator that helps differentiate congenital pyloric stenosis from other gastrointestinal conditions in infants.

In summary, projectile vomiting is a hallmark of congenital pyloric stenosis, serving as a crucial clinical presentation that directs attention towards the need for further evaluation and management of this condition.