title: Gastric emptying is delayed at 8-12 weeks' gestation.
abstract: Gastric emptying was studied indirectly by paracetamol absorption in 20 patients at 8-12 weeks' gestation and also in 20 non-pregnant controls. Subjects received paracetamol 1.5 g in a tablet with 50 ml of water and remained semi-recumbent for 2 h while venous blood samples were obtained at 15-min intervals. The maximum concentration of paracetamol was significantly lower and the time to maximum concentration significantly greater in pregnant patients. In addition, the areas under the time-concentration curves at 60 and 120 min were significantly smaller in the pregnant group. These changes are indicative of a delay in gastric emptying at 8-12 weeks' gestation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Anaesthetic Sciences, University of Sheffield, Royal Hallamshire Hospital.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Magides
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Reilly
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First
chemical_list: D000082:Acetaminophen