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Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to systematically explore improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms 1 week and 1 month following the frenotomy procedure, compared to before the procedure for infants under 12 months of age using meta-analysis calculations.

Methods: Studies were selected that presented data on breastfed infants under 12 months of age, with gastrointestinal symptoms and reflux, who underwent surgical correction for restricted maxillary labial frenum and/or ankyloglossia, and/or maxillary buccal frena. Case reports, letters to editors, previous systematic reviews, in vitro and animal studies, and only abstracts were excluded. An integrative literature review was carried out in MEDLINE via PubMed, EBSCOhost, Scopus Embase, Web of Science & Cochrane Library from April 2016 to March 2023. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Modified Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale. GRADE profiler (GRADEpro) was used to rate the quality of evidence. We conducted meta-analysis using random effects modelling with the RevMan Software 5.4.

Results: Out of the 90 studies identified, nine studies were included, seven were prospective cohort studies, one was a prospective randomized trial, and one was a retrospective analysis. Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms showed statistically significant improvement in I-GERQ-R scores after 1 week (effect size = 3.40, p < 0.00001) and 1 month (effect size = 6.37, p

Conclusion: Tethered oral tissues should be considered as a potential etiology in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal reflux in infants.

Keywords

ankyloglossia, aerophagia, frenotomy, gastroesophageal reflux, infant

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