Gastroesophageal reflux related to respiratory inhibition after crying and feeding hypoxemia in infants

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relationships between gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and both respiratory inhibition after crying (RIAC) and feeding hypoxemia in infants.

Methods: We screened for RIAC and feeding hypoxemia among infants with a gestational age of 36 weeks or greater using pulse oximetry. We investigated the infants who showed hypoxemia with a decrease in SpO₂ to less than 70% and bradycardia with a heart rate of less than 100 beats per minute caused by GER. We then evaluated the relationships between these events and both RIAC and feeding hypoxemia.

Results: We examined 250 infants in the present study. RIAC and feeding hypoxemia were observed in 35 (14.0%), and 30 (12.0%) infants, respectively. Ten infants showed hypoxemia and bradycardia caused by GER. These events were correlated with RIAC (p = 0.006) and feeding hypoxemia (p = 0.031).

Conclusions: In the infants with RIAC and feeding hypoxemia, some show severe hypoxemia and bradycardia caused by GER. Medical staff caring for infants should note the presence of RIAC and feeding hypoxemia.

• Bradycardia
• gastroesophageal reflux
• hypoxemia
• infants
• pulse oximetry

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.