myotomies
A myotomy is a surgical procedure that involves cutting through muscle fibers to relieve abnormal constriction or spasm. By weakening or releasing a contracted muscle, the procedure aims to restore normal passage or function while preserving surrounding tissues. It is used in several medical specialties.
Common indications include hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in infants, treated by pyloromyotomy to relieve gastric outlet obstruction;
Techniques vary by target muscle. Pyloromyotomy typically involves a longitudinal incision through the pyloric muscle layer,
Outcomes depend on indication and technique. Benefits often include relief of obstruction or abnormal movement, but
Historically, pyloromyotomy and esophagomyotomy were important early 20th‑century procedures, with Ramstedt’s pyloromyotomy and Heller’s operation serving