The abdominal circumference to weight ratio increases with decreasing body weight in preterm infants.
Abdominal distension is one of the major clinical indications to withhold feedings in preterm infants. The abdominal circumference (AC) was measured in 42 premature infants on full enteral nutrition in order to establish reference values. AC decreased linearly (r2 = 0.83) with decreasing weight. However, the AC to weight ratio increased substantially (hyperbolically) with decreasing weight.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased AC to weight ratio may be misinterpreted as pathological abdominal distension in the clinical assessment of preterm infants on full enteral nutrition.
Mihatsch
W A
WA
Department of Paediatrics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany. walter.mihatsch@medizin.uni-ulm
Högel
J
J
Pohlandt
F
F
D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D015431:Weight Loss