Clinical characteristics and follow-up study of 47 neonates with gastroesophageal reflux / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the clinical characteristics of the newborns with gastroesophageal reflux (GER),and to compare the complications and outcomes of different degrees of reflux retrospectively. Methods Neo-nates diagnosed with GER by using upper gastrointestinal series admitted to neonatal ward of Peking University First Hospital from August 2008 to September 2017 were enrolled for the study. Data of demographic characteristics,radio-graphic imaging findings,treatment methods and efficacy of therapy of patients were collected. Infants enrolled in this study were followed up for 1 year after being discharged from hospital. The lasting time of reflux symptoms with different degrees of reflux were compared. Results A total of 47 cases of GER were enrolled,of whom 23 cases were male,and 24 cases were female. There were 42 term infants and 5 preterm infants. Their gestational age ranged from 34 to 41 weeks[(38. 9 ± 1. 6)weeks],and birth weight was from 1990 g to 4430 g[(3157. 3 ± 574. 0)g]. The median onset age was 2 days,ranged from 1 to 21 days. The clinical manifestations were recurrent vomiting (40 / 47 cases,85. 1％) and paroxysmal cyanosis (7 / 47 cases,14. 9％). Complications presented as poor weight gain (42 / 47 cases,89. 4％), aspiration pneumonia (24 / 47 cases,51. 1％)and apnea (1 / 47 cases,2. 1％). The findings of upper gastrointestinal imaging assigned the patients into 2 groups,13 cases of mild reflux group and 34 cases of severe reflux group. After po-sitional therapy together with domperidone,44 patients showed improvement of symptoms. After their discharge,the lasting time of reflux symptoms in the mild reflux group was significantly shorter than in the severe group [4 weeks(2 -8 weeks)vs. 8 weeks (2 - 40 weeks)],and the difference was significant(Z = - 2. 336,P < 0. 05). Conclusions Neonates with GER mainly manifest recurrent vomiting,and most of them have a favorable prognosis. The reflux symp-toms last for less time in the mild reflux infants than in the severe patients.