Doppler assessment of human neonatal gut blood flow velocities: postnatal adaptation and response to feeds.
Duplex pulsed Doppler ultrasound was used to study changes in gut blood flow velocities during the first week of life in a group of 14 term babies. There was a significant increase in fasting peak systolic velocity in the superior mesenteric artery between days 1 and 2 with a further upward trend until day 5; no such changes were seen in the coeliac axis. Fasting velocities were 20% lower in breast-fed babies than bottle-fed babies. Following feeds, there was a significant increase in velocity in the superior mesenteric artery that was 35% greater in the bottle-fed than breast-fed babies. Changes in the coeliac axis were qualitatively similar but substantially smaller. The peak velocity in both vessels occurred 50 min after a feed. We conclude that Doppler ultrasound can be readily used to measure gut blood flow velocities in the human newborn. It provides a noninvasive technique for investigating adaptive postnatal changes in the splanchnic circulation, and, in particular, the response to feeds.
Coombs
R C
RC
Institute of Child Health, University of Birmingham, U.K.
Morgan
M E
ME
Durbin
G M
GM
Booth
I W
IW
McNeish
A S
AS
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D014465:Ultrasonics