What condition is characterized by inadequate stomach emptying after feeding?

Pyloric stenosis is characterized by inadequate stomach emptying after feeding due to the hypertrophy of the pyloric muscle, which is located at the exit of the stomach. In infants diagnosed with pyloric stenosis, the thickening of this muscle leads to a narrowing of the pyloric channel, resulting in delayed passage of food from the stomach into the small intestine. This condition typically presents with projectile vomiting after feeding, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances, as the body struggles to properly process and move food through the gastrointestinal tract.

In contrast, gastroesophageal reflux involves the backward flow of stomach contents into the esophagus, which can lead to spitting up or vomiting but does not directly relate to the mechanical obstruction or impaired emptying characteristic of pyloric stenosis. Esophageal atresia is a congenital condition where the esophagus does not connect properly to the stomach, leading to feeding difficulties from birth but differs in pathology from pyloric stenosis. Intestinal obstruction refers to a blockage in the intestines that prevents food and digestive fluids from passing through but does so at a site beyond the stomach and is not specifically related to the pylorus. Thus, pyloric stenosis is the condition most directly associated with inadequate stomach emptying after feeding.