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Prone and left lateral positioning reduce gastro-oesophageal reflux in preterm infants

A K Ewer1, M E James, J M Tobin

  • 1Neonatal Unit, Birmingham Women's Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TG. a.k.ewer@bham.ac.uk

Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition
|October 19, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Prone and left lateral body positions significantly reduce gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) severity in preterm infants. These positions decrease the number and duration of reflux episodes, aiding treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Gastroenterology
  • Pediatric medicine

Background:

  • Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) is a common clinical issue in preterm infants.
  • Managing GOR is crucial for infant well-being and development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of different body positions on clinically significant GOR in preterm infants.
  • To determine if specific positions can mitigate reflux severity.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study involving 18 preterm infants with diagnosed GOR.
  • Utilized 24-hour lower oesophageal pH monitoring.
  • Infants were positioned prone, left lateral, and right lateral for 8-hour intervals, with random order assignment.

Main Results:

  • Prone and left lateral positions significantly reduced the reflux index (RI) compared to the right lateral position (p<0.001).
  • The number and duration of GOR episodes were substantially decreased in prone and left lateral positions (p<0.001).
  • No significant difference was observed in the mean time spent in each position.

Conclusions:

  • Prone and left lateral positioning are effective in reducing the severity of gastro-oesophageal reflux in preterm infants.
  • These positions decrease both the frequency and longest duration of reflux episodes.
  • Body positioning serves as a valuable complementary treatment for hospitalized preterm infants experiencing GOR.
Abstract

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