Effect of Body Position Changes on Postprandial Gastroesophageal Reflux and Gastric Emptying in the Healthy Premature Neonate

The objective of this study was to identify a body-positioning regimen that promotes gastric emptying (GE) and reduces gastroesophageal reflux (GER) by changing body position 1 hour after feeding.  Ten healthy preterm infants were monitored with combined esophageal impedance-manometry. Infants were positioned in the left lateral position (LLP) or right lateral position (RLP) and then gavage-fed. After 1 hour, the position was changed to the opposite side. Subsequently, all infants were restudied with the order of positioning reversed.  The uthors conclude that a strategy of right lateral positioning for the first postprandial hour with a position change to the left thereafter promotes GE and reduces liquid GER in the late postprandial period and may prove to be a simple therapeutic approach for infants with GER disease.