Transpiloric feeding in gastroesophageal reflux in neonatology

Abstract

Optimizing nutritional support is essential for critically ill children, and premature infants are particularly vulnerable to the effects of prolonged fasting. There is a lot of evidence in the scientific literature for the benefits of enteral nutrition. It is known that premature babies need an individual approach to nutrition due to the prevalence of catabolic processes, while treatment in the intensive care unit requires a surplus of calories. Timely introduction of enteral nutrition helps to reduce morbidity and mortality in this population. Gastroesophageal reflux is common in preterm infants. When there is a decrease in tolerance to enteral feeding, doctors usually prefer parenteral nutrition. However, its use can be associated with metabolic, infectious and iatrogenic complications. A step-by-step therapeutic approach is recommended in the treatment of GER in preterm infants. Conservative treatment should be considered as first-line therapy in children without clinical complications. Feeding through a gastric tube is not always well tolerated by seriously ill people patients. As for the treatment of complicated GER, extensive studies show that the use of transpiloric feeding is comparable in effectiveness to fundoplication. Transpiloric feeding tube can be justified as a strategy for treating GER that is refractory to conservative therapy.