Evaluation of Smectite Effect As A Food Thickener On Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease In Neonates Using Combined Esophageal Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance

This is a prospective clinical trial conducted on 20 preterm neonates < 37 weeks of gestation, admitted in NICU, maternity hospital, Ain Shams University. They were assessed for gastroesophageal reflux disease and investigated using ph-MII for detection of reflux episodes and they were given Smecta 3gm/day for 7 days at least as a food thickener and then ph-MII repeated to assess the response

Inclusion criteria

• • Newborns free of any congenital anomalies or inborn errors of metabolism

• Infants had signs of reflux like:

• Typical or atypical crying and/or irritability
• Apparent life-threatening event
• Poor appetite; weight loss or poor growth (failure to thrive)
• Vomiting
• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
• Wheezing, stridor
• Recurrent pneumonitis
• Sandifer syndrome (ie, posturing with opisthotonus or torticollis)

Exclusion criteria

• • Newborns with GIT anomalies as trans-esophageal fistula, hiatus hernia and other GIT anomalies causing reflux.

• Patients with Hirshsprung disease or delayed passage of meconium.
• History of NEC in the baby.