Some causes of adult pyloric stenosis include scarring from ulcers, a hiatal hernia, an inflammatory disease, or a mass in the abdomen, according to Mount Sinai Hospital. Pyloric stenosis occurs when the opening between the stomach and the intestines narrows and does not function properly. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and dehydration.
Pyloric stenosis is most common in infancy, when it occurs for congenital reasons or as the result of an infection, reports Mount Sinai Hospital. In adults, the condition occurs when the muscles that make up the pylorus sphincter, the opening between the stomach and the duodenum, become scarred or when the opening is under pressure from benign or cancerous growths. Treatment involves a surgical procedure called a pyloroplasty. During the procedure, the sphincter is cut to widen the opening and is sewn back together in a way that preserves the larger opening.
Pyloric stenosis is a serious condition that can cause malnutrition or dehydration in both adults and children, and usually calls for surgical treatment, maintains Mount Sinai Hospital. Some risks of the surgery include bleeding, infections, intestinal damage, hernias and chronic diarrhea. The surgery requires general anesthesia and a hospital stay of one to three days. During recovery, the patient gradually resumes a normal diet and activity level.
