Gastric myoelectrical activity in neonates of different gestational ages by means of electrogastrography.
OBJECTIVE
to describe the patterns of the gastric myoelectrical activity, pre-and postprandially, in clinically stable neonates of different gestational ages, during their first two weeks of life by means of Electrogastrography.


METHODS
Electrogastrography was recorded in forty-five clinically stable neonates of different gestational ages (group I: 15 neonates of > 37 weeks, group II: 15 premature neonates of 32-37 weeks; Group III: 15 premature neonates of 28-31 weeks) receiving intermittent enteral feedings during their first two weeks of life. Electrogastrography recordings were performed for 1 hour pre-and postprandially. The Electrogastrography signal was recorded using the portable MicroDigitrapper Electrogastrography recording device and after motion artifacts were deleted, the remaining Electrogastrography data were submitted to quantitative analysis based on the "Running Spectrum Analysis".


RESULTS
The percentages of normogastria, pre-and postprandially were greater than the percentages of gastric dysrythmias in all three studied groups. Furthermore, all neonates had the mean values of the Electrogastrography dominant frequency predominantly within the normogastria range, in both periods analyzed. There were no significant differences in the relative change of the Electrogastrography dominant power among the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that the Electrogastrography patterns are similar between premature and full term neonates during the pre-and postprandial periods. The results of this study also indicate that the gastric myoelectrical activity in premature and full term neonates is immature, as compared to that described for older neonates, children and adults.
Precioso
Alexander Roberto
AR
Children's Institute, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Pereira
Gilberto R
GR
Vaz
Flávio Adolfo Costa
FA
D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D016065:Myoelectric Complex, Migrating / Q000502:physiology; D019518:Postprandial Period; D013270:Stomach / Q000502:physiology*