title: Effect of low-dose oral erythromycin on gastric aspirates in ventilated neonates less than 32 weeks of gestation. Preliminary results.
abstract: In this prospective study, the 24-hour gastric aspirate volume was carefully recorded before, 24 and 48 h after administering 1.7 mg/kg/8-hourly of oral erythromycin to 16 ventilated neonates less than 32 weeks of gestation. Their median gestational age was 28.5 weeks (range 23-31 weeks), their median birthweight was 1,045 g (range 690-1,560 g) and the median day of life at which erythromycin was commenced was 9.5 days (range 4-16 days). Prior to administering erythromycin median 24-hour gastric aspirate volume, expressed as a percentage of the milk volume given over the same period, was 38.5% (range 20.0-100%). It was significantly lower 24 h (median 12%, range 0-41%, p = 0.0004) and 48 h (median 5%, range 0-21%, p = 0.0004) after commencing erythromycin. There was also significant reduction of gastric aspirate volume between 24 and 48 h after commencing erythromycin (p = 0.0024). Milk volume increment over the same period was not significant (p = 0.1022). These preliminary results warrant further evaluation through a randomised controlled trial.
authors.affiliation: NICU, 2nd Department of Paediatrics, University of Athens, Aglaia Kyriakou Children's Hospital, Greece. hdellagr@ath.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Dellagrammaticas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iacovidou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Megaloyanni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kapetanakis
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009037:Motilin / Q000819:agonists; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000628:therapy; D013270:Stomach; D013396:Suction
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D009037:Motilin; D004917:Erythromycin