Is acid base determination an accurate predictor of pyloric stenosis?

Abstract

Objective: To determine if acid base status predicts which vomiting patients have pyloric stenosis. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Tertiary paediatric hospital. Methodology: We compared the clinical and biochemical parameters of 100 patients with a discharge diagnosis of pyloric stenosis and 84 patients of a similar age who presented to the emergency department with vomiting and who had an acid base determination. Patients were included from January 1995 to January 1997. Clinical correlates consisted of age, duration of vomiting, weight loss, gestation, and family history of pyloric stenosis. Biochemical correlates were pH, bicarbonate, base excess (BE), chloride, potassium, an..