Treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease in newborns

The physical health of newborns is an issue that parents are most concerned about. Since the organs in the newborn's body have not yet fully developed, the newborn's disease resistance and immunity are relatively poor. We recommend that parents and friends do a good job of caring for the newborn. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a disease that is common in newborns. Below we introduce the treatment methods for gastroesophageal reflux disease in newborns.

(1) Indications and contraindications Only 5% to 10% of children with gastroesophageal reflux require surgical treatment, so surgical indications need to be carefully selected. The following situations are indications for anti-reflux surgery: ① Patients whose systemic medical treatment is ineffective or whose disease relapses soon after drug withdrawal; ② Patients whose reflux is caused by congenital diaphragmatic hernia; ③ Patients with severe reflux complications, such as esophagitis with bleeding, ulcers, stenosis, etc.; ④ Patients with recurrent pulmonary infection and suffocation caused by reflux; ⑤ Patients with pathological reflux confirmed by objective examination (such as dynamic pH monitoring); ⑥ Alkaline gastroesophageal reflux.

(2) Surgical principles Antireflux surgery is to restore the normal closing ability of the gastric fundus and cardia through anatomical reconstruction, thereby preventing reflux, allowing normal swallowing and vomiting when needed.

(3) Commonly used surgical methods ① Nissen surgery, also known as 360° total fundoplication, is a commonly used anti-reflux surgery in clinical practice. ②Belsey No. 4 surgery is a 240° partial plication of the anterior gastric wall.

(4) Evaluation of surgical efficacy The efficacy of anti-reflux surgery can be evaluated by referring to the following indicators: ① Complete elimination of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and complications; ② Ability to hiccup to expel excess gas in the stomach; ③ Ability to vomit when necessary; ④ Objective examinations of gastroesophageal reflux, such as 24-hour dynamic pH monitoring and gastroesophageal motility examinations, return to or approach normal ranges.

In the above article, we introduced the reasons why newborns are prone to illness. We recommend that parents take good care of their newborns in daily life. If a newborn develops gastroesophageal reflux disease, the methods introduced above can be used for treatment.