THE SWALLOWING MECHANISM OF THE NEONATE I. ESOPHAGEAL AND GASTRIC MOTILITY

Abstract

Patterns of esophageal motility are presented from 30 infants who were studied before and after the initiation of feeding and from 15 premature infants who were studied only after they had fed several days. Sucking occurs in only small bursts of 3 to 4 sucks in the neonate who has never fed, but in longer efficient bursts of 10 to 30 sucks in the neonate who has taken feedings for several days. The infant under 12 hours old and the premature infant have frequent simultaneous contractions of the esophagus and many biphasic peristaltic waves which probably represent an incoordination of the esophageal response to deglutition and neuronal immaturity. These abnormalities occur less frequently in the 3-day-old infant. In the majority of term and premature infants the inferior esophageal sphincter mechanism is located at or above the effective diaphragmatic hiatus and its tone is poor.