# Deer velvet powder-induced antral stricture mimicking infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in a 3-month-old infant: a case report

## TL;DR

A 3-month-old infant developed a rare stomach blockage linked to deer velvet powder, mimicking a common condition called infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

## Contribution

This is the first reported case linking deer velvet powder to antral stricture in infants.

## Key findings

- The infant's symptoms were initially mistaken for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.
- Deer velvet powder was suspected to have caused antral perforation and stricture.
- The case highlights the risks of unregulated supplement use in infants.

## Abstract

Antral stricture is a rare cause of gastric outlet obstruction in infants, typically linked to infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). We report a case of a 3-month-old male with a 1.5-month history of progressively worsening, nonbilious vomiting. Although initial imaging suggested IHPS, intraoperative findings revealed a sealed antral perforation with dense adhesions, leading to a distal gastrectomy with Billroth I reconstruction. A detailed retrospective history disclosed that the infant had been given deer velvet powder, suspected to have contributed to the perforation and subsequent stricture formation. This novel association highlights potential risks of unregulated supplement use in infants and underscores the need for further investigation.