ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) has been found to be the causative factors of apnea, stridor, feeding intolerance, poor weight gain, and sudden infants death syndrome (SIDS) in infants. GER is a well-described in infants and children, but only scant mention of the premature infants with GER can be found in the literature. METHODS: Esophageal pH was measured during 24 hour in 21 healthy preterm infants, using a silicone microelectrode with an external reference electrode connected to a portable recorder. The mean age of the patients was 29+/-8 days, mean gestational age was 30(+5)+/-2(+0) weeks, mean birth weight was 1,468+/-329 g, mean postconceptional age was 34(+6)+/-1(+4) weeks and mean weight was 1,750+/-329 g. We evaluated the following reflux parameters; number of acid reflux, number of long acid reflux, longest acid reflux minutes, and reflux index. RESULTS: Pathologic GER was detected in 12 (57%) subjects and most interesting parameters are reflux index and number of episodes with a pH<4 during 24 hour (high correlation with postprandial reflux index). Reflux was not correlated to gestational age, birth weight, age, postconceptional age, weight, sex and medication of the theophylline. CONCLUSION: Gastroesophageal reflux is common in preterm infants, but it is usually not apparent, even with severe reflux.