Esophageal dysmotility and the sudden infant death syndrome: clinical experience.

Abstract

Symptoms equated with "threatened" or "near-miss" sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) were noted during feedings in 4 infants. In each case, barium esophagrams revealed dysmotility. Acute "near-miss" symptoms required cardiopulmonary resuscitation during esophagography in 2 infants. The authors suggest that esophageal dysmotility is a cause of "near-miss" SIDS and most likely is responsible for more fatalities than commonly realized. The cause-and-effect relationship is explained by a vagovagal reaction. Etiologies of esophageal dysmotility and possible prophylactic measures are discussed.