Pharmacological interventions for prevention and treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in newborn infants

Abstract

There is moderate‐quality evidence that use of an H2 receptor antagonist reduces the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding in newborn infants at high risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. There is low‐quality evidence that use of an inhibitor of gastric acid (H2 receptor antagonist or proton pump inhibitor) reduces the duration of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and the incidence of continued gastric bleeding in newborn infants with gastrointestinal bleeding. However, there is no evidence that use of an inhibitor of gastric acid in newborn infants affects mortality or the need for blood transfusion. As no study reported the incidence of necrotising enterocolitis, ventilator‐ or hospital‐associated pneumonia, sepsis, or long‐term outcome, the safety of inhibitors of gastric acid secretion is unclear. Show more