Increased Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infections and Anomalies in Infants with Pyloric Stenosis

Abstract

We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients admitted to our institution with a diagnosis of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) during a 10-year period from 1985-95 in order to assess the possible association between IHPS and urinary tract infections (UTIs). All 285 patients with IHPS had radiological or ultrasonographic confirmation of that diagnosis and underwent the Ramstedt procedure. Those who continued to be symptomatic were evaluated for UTI by urine analysis and culture. Positive cases were further evaluated for urinary system anomalies. The male:female ratio of IHPS was 3.4:1. Concomitant UTI was diagnosed in 8 patients by suprapubic aspiration or bladder catheterization. The prevalence of UTI in this series was 2.8%, 20-fold higher than the expected prevalence. Three of the 8 patients with UTI (37.5%) had urinary tract anomalies. These findings suggest an association between IHPS and UTI. We recommend that all IHPS patients be evaluated for UTI and positive cases undergo further evaluation for urinary anomalies.