Two Cases of Helicobacter pylori-Negative Gastric Outlet Obstruction in Children

Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) in children is most commonly caused by idiopathic hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Prior to proton pump inhibitors and H2 blockers, peptic ulcer disease (PUD) secondary to H. pylori was a cause of GOO. Both patients presented with a history of weight loss, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Their diagnosis of PUD and GOO was made by EGD and UGI. H. pylori testing was negative for both on multiple occasions but still received H. pylori eradication therapy. Patient 1 after failing pharmaceutical management underwent surgery for definitive treatment. Patient 2 underwent six therapeutic pyloric dilations before undergoing surgery as definitive treatment. These cases suggest that GOO secondary to PUD occurs in the absence of H. pylori infection and surgical management can provide definitive therapy.