Oral erythromycin for treatment of gastrointestinal dysmotility in premature infants
Abstract
Background Functional immaturity of gastrointestinal (GI)motility predisposes preterm infants to feeding intolerance.
Erythromycin as a prokinetic agent has been given to preterm
infants for the management of non-obstructive GI dysmotility.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of oral erythromycin for the
treatment of GI dysmotility in preterm infants.
Methods A randomized controlled clinical trial was done at Adam
Malik Hospital and Pirngadi Hospital, Medan, between October
2004 – March 2005. Fifty preterm infants with feeding intolerance
were randomly assigned to either receive oral erythromycin (12.5
mg/kg, every 6 hours) or placebo for 7 days. Improved tolerance
for enteral feedings was evaluated by the amount of gastric residue
before feeding.
Results On the sixth day, there was a significant difference in the
amount of residue from gastric residue between the oral
erythromycin group and placebo group (mean 21.7 and 29.4;
P<0.05) and so were results on the seventh day (mean 14.1 and
26.9; P<0.05).
Conclusion Oral erythromycin reduces the amount of gastric
residue before feed in premature infants.
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Accepted 2016-09-01
Published 2007-10-31