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

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.