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In a retrospective chart review, investigators determined the proportion of children with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis requiring pyloromyotomy who had abnormal serum bicarbonate, potassium, and chloride levels at presentation and the relation between electrolyte levels and age and duration of vomiting.
Of 205 patients <6 months of age (mean age, 5 weeks) diagnosed with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis during a 10-year period, 88% were male and 80% were white. The mean duration of vomiting before diagnosis was 10 days. Bicarbonate levels were normal (22–29 mEq/L) in 62% of patients, low in 20%, and high in 18%; potassium was normal (3.6–5.2 mEq/L) in 57%, low in 8%, and high in 35%; and chloride was normal (98–107 mEq/L) in 69%, low in 25%, and…