Respiratory Arrest in Infants Secondary to Gastroesophageal Reflux

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux is being recognized with increasing frequency in infancy and childhood. Once thought to be rare, or of no significance, it is now commonly recognized when sought for by proper radiologic techniques in suspected individuals. Its manifestations are protean. Although in most instances it is relatively harmless, gastroesophageal reflux in infancy may be responsible for failure to thrive, blood loss anemia resulting from peptic esophagitis, and recurrent aspiration pneumonia, The importance of the last has been well described by several authors.1-5 In recent years, we have treated ten children less than 6 months old for episodes of respiratory arrest which appeared to be due to gastroesophageal reflux (Table I).