Esophageal swallowing reflexes in preterms

Article Outline

• Copyright

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease is frequent at all ages and multiple medications are used to treat symptoms. Most preterm infants will have swallowing problems as they develop feeding skills and will have reflux that may or may not be “symptomatic.” The frequency of diagnosis of symptomatic reflux varies widely between physicians and neonatal units. Similarly, the use of drug therapy that is unvalidated for efficacy or safety varies widely in this patient population. Jadcheria, Hoffman, and Shaker report an elegant study of the mechano- and chemo-sensitive stimuli of persistalsis and upper esophageal sphincter reflexes in preterm infants. With more studies like this, we may learn the physiologic basis for reflux in the preterm, which would be desirable to better direct drug therapies.