Abstract
GER and aspiration may be associated with apnea and may aggravate chronic lung disease in some infants but there is little information on GER in the newborn. We studied GER to the proximal (rather than distal) esophagus since this would detect refluxed material that might reach the larynx and its chemoreceptors or be aspirated. We studied 9 infants without clinical GER or risk factors felt to increase GER. The gastric pH was <4 in all patients. The tip of the probe was placed at the level of the 1st or 2nd thoracic vertebra. All babies were fed dextrose water to maintain a low gastric pH and were positioned supine or on their sides for the duration of the study. Gestational age ranged from 25-41 wks., birthweight 780-3920 g and postconceptional age 34.4-48.8 wks. Results (meanĀ±SD):
When compared with published data of GER to the distal esophagus in older children, GER to the proximal esophagus in newborns is a much more frequent event.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sindel, B., Maisels, M. & Ballantine, T. 1524 GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX (GER) TO THE PROXIMAL ESOPHAGUS IN NEWBORN INFANTS. Pediatr Res 19, 364 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01548
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01548