Measurements of Oral and Gastric pH in Neonates

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure the oral and gastric pH among preterm and term infants by the simple experimental method using pH paper. METHODS: This prospective study included a total of 60 neonates born at Konyang University Hospital from June 2004 to September 2004. Each neonate's oral and gastric pH levels were measured with pH paper at 6 hourly intervals on the first and the fifth day of life. 15 preterm infants were examined until twenty first day of life. RESULTS: The oral and gastric pH of 60 neonates were 6.3+/-0.5 and 4.1+/-1.0 on the first day and 6.0+/-0.3 and 3.9+/-0.9 on the fifth day, respectively. The preterm infant had lower oral and gastric pH of 6.4+/-0.6 and 4.3+/-1.1 on the first day and 6.0+/-0.2 and 4.2+/-1.0 on the fifth day, respectively in comparison to those of term infant's oral and gastric pH of 6.3+/-0.4, 4.0+/-0.9 on the first day and 6.1+/-0.3 and 3.7+/-0.8 on the fifth day, respectively. The gastric pH's of preterm infant on the first, fifth and twenty first day of life were 4.6+/-1.4, 4.3+/-1.0 and 4.2+/-1.0, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study reports the value of neonates' oral and gastric pH on the first and fifth day of life. The average gastric pH of neonate is higher than that of adult's and preterm infant's gastric pH is higher than term infant's. The gastric pH of preterm infant decreased in time.

A Case of H-type Tracheoesophageal Fistula Diagnosed by Esophagography in Prone Position

An H-type tracheoesophageal fistula is a rare congenital condition of which incidence is approximately 1: 50, 000-80, 000 births. Although patient usually has recurrent respiratory symptoms such as choking episodes and cyanotic spells, its rarity and atypical symptoms may delay its detection. Besides, conventional esophagogram often fail to find the defect. We reported a case of H-type tracheoesophageal fistula, diagnosed by tube esophagram with infant in the prone position. During the test, contrast medium was injected while the catheter is slowly withdraws from lower esophagus.