Very early postnatal changes in splanchnic circulation in term infants.
BACKGROUND
Reversed blood flow has been reported in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in 92% of healthy term newborns at 2 h of age. By 24 h after birth the end-diastolic velocity became positive in all of the infants.


OBJECTIVE
To characterize hemodynamic changes in the coeliac artery and superior mesenteric artery in healthy term newborns during the first 6 h after birth and to specify the time interval when the negative values of end-diastolic velocity in the superior mesenteric artery become positive.


METHODS
Our study included 30 healthy term newborns. The blood flow velocity was assessed by Doppler ultrasonography at 2 h, 4 h and 6 h after birth.


RESULTS
The end-diastolic velocity in the superior mesenteric artery changed from negative values at the age of 2 h (-0.9 cm/s, range -13.2 to 0.0) to positive (7.08 cm/s, range 6.3 to 13.5, P < 0.001) at 6 h after birth. In the coeliac artery, the end-diastolic velocity increased during this period, but negative values were not observed (11.8 cm/s, range 9.3 to 13.9 at 2 h and 18.03 cm/s, range 14.2 to 27.6 at 6 h).


CONCLUSIONS
Important changes occur in splanchnic circulation during the first 6 h after birth. The rise in end-diastolic velocity in the superior mesenteric artery from negative to positive values in 83% of healthy term newborns is the most important change.
Department of Neonatology, Jessenius Medical Faculty Martin, Comenius University Bratislava, University Hospital Martin, Kollarova 2, 036 59, Martin, Slovakia.
Eva
E
Paulusova
Katarina
K
Matasova
Jana
J
Zibolenova
Lucia
L
Lucanova
Lenka
L
Kocvarova
Mirko
M
Zibolen
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*