Erythromycin improves gastrointestinal motility in extremely low birthweight infants.

Erythromycin (EM) was administered to five extremely low birthweight infants (ELBWI) with delayed enteral feeding to evaluate the clinical effect on severely impaired gastrointestinal motility. Five patients studied responded well to EM administration without any adverse effects during the course. Four patients were given 15-30 mg/kg per day EM intravenously as a loading and thereafter 3-5 mg/kg per day as a maintenance dose. One patient responded well without loading. The infants could be fed enterally 4, 5, 6, 4 and 2 days after the initiation of EM administration, respectively. Erythromycin administration is a safe and useful way to facilitate gastrointestinal motility in ELBWI who require prolonged ventilator support with an increased risk for nutrient deprivation.