Effect of Oral Erythromycin on Milk Tolerance in Preterm Neonates

Background and Objective: Milk intolerance due to gastrointestinal dysmotility is a common problem among preterm neonates. Erythromycin has a prokinetic effect on gastrointestinal motility. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of oral erythromycin in preterm neonates on milk tolerance. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on ۷۰ preterm neonates with a gestational age of ۲۸ to ۳۴ weeks who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Imam Reza (AS) Hospital in Kermanshah, Iran. Thirty-five infants in the control group received breast milk alone and ۳۵ neonates in the treatment group received ۲.۵mg/kg oral erythromycin every ۶ hours for ۱۰ days in addition to breast milk. The time taken to reach full enteral feeding, duration of hospitalization, daily vomiting episodes and residual volume of gastric lavage were compared in the two groups by t- test and chi- square test. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding their sex distribution, birth weight, gestational age and onset of feeding. Also, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the time to reach full enteral feeding (P=۰.۰۵۸). The number of gastric residue episodes was significantly higher in the control group than in the treatment group (۵.۱۱± ۲.۹۲ versus ۲.۲۳ ± ۱.۸۸ P = ۰.۰۰۳). None of the neonates in the two groups developed necrotizing enterocolitis, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Conclusion: Prophylactic use of recommended dose of oral erythromycin in preterm neonates with a gestational age of less than ۳۴ weeks reduces gastric residue but does not reduce the time to reach full enteral feeding.

کلیدواژه ها:

Keywords: Erythromycin ، Milk tolerance ، Preterm neonates ، Vomiting