title: Peripartum changes in gastric emptying.
abstract: Applied potential tomography was used to measure changes in gastric emptying during the peripartum period. Gastric emptying was measured sequentially in each of 10 healthy patients at 37-40 weeks gestation, 2-3 days postpartum and after the 6-week postnatal assessment (control). Mean (SD) times to 50% emptying were 15 (6.05), 11 (5.9) and 15 (5.5) min, respectively. There was no statistically significant change in gastric emptying as a result of pregnancy in this group of women. Retrospective power analysis (assuming alpha = 0.05 and beta = 0.20) shows the study design was adequate to detect a difference of 8 min.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Leicester Royal Infirmary.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Sandhar
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Windram
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Rowbotham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D013997:Time Factors; D014054:Tomography