Is Erythromycin Useful for Dysmotility of Prematurity? : A Randomised Controlled Trial in a Neonatal Unit of a Rural Medical College, India

Aim: To find out the efficacy and safety of low dose (6mg/kg/day) oral Erythromycin in gastro intestinal dysmotility of premature infants. Materials and Methods – A prospective double blind randomised placebo controlled study was done on 82 preterm infants admitted to the neonatal unit. The infants were randomly allocated to receive oral erythromycin or equivalent volume of normal saline as placebo. The time taken to establish 1/4th, 1/2, 3/4th and full enteral feed after drug treatment was compared between two groups. Potential adverse effects of oral erythromycin were assessed. Results –Infants with less than 30 weeks , 30- 34 weeks and 35- 37 weeks of maturity achieved full enteral feeding (FEF) at the age of 19.44 days, 12.81 days and 9.36 days respectively in the erythromycin group whereas infants in control group the time required was 34.33days, 21.50 days and 18.65 days respectively. None of the infant developed cholestasis, pyloric stenosis or QT prolongation in either groups. Only 1 infant from erythromycin group and 8 from control group developed necrotising entero-colitis.