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Gastroesophageal Reflux and the Neonatal Airway

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Book cover Disorders of the Neonatal Airway

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is popularly regarded as a disease of the stomach and esophagus, but it is better understood as a disease of the aerodigestive tract. While human infants universally exhibit gastroesophageal reflux, it becomes a “disease” essentially when the airways are damaged by gastric contents (acid, pepsin, milk, bacteria, bile acids). Meanwhile, positive feedback loops between the organ systems of the chest and abdomen probably exacerbate the disease in vulnerable infants, but also reveal clinical opportunities to interrupt the cycle. While a single diagnostic test for GERD does not exist, surgical amelioration of reflux is very effective protection for the airway. Best results may be achieved not just through the operation but through postoperative nutritional management that incorporates new constraints imposed by fundoplication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of General, Thoracic, and Fetal Surgery, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-4399, USA

    Thane Blinman M.D., F.A.C.S.

  2. University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Thane Blinman M.D., F.A.C.S.

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  1. Thane Blinman M.D., F.A.C.S.
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Correspondence to Thane Blinman M.D., F.A.C.S. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Attending Neonatologist, Director Neonatal Outreach, Medical Director, Neonatal Airway Program, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Department of Neonatology, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Janet Lioy

  2. Attending Surgeon, Fellowship Director, Pediatric Otolaryngology, The Center for Pediatric Airway Disorders, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Associate Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Steven E. Sobol

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Blinman, T. (2015). Gastroesophageal Reflux and the Neonatal Airway. In: Lioy, J., Sobol, S. (eds) Disorders of the Neonatal Airway. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1610-8_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1610-8_26

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