Intestinal blood-flow velocity in uncomplicated preterm infants during the early neonatal period

Abstract

Background. Intestinal blood-flow changes after birth. Objective. To elucidate the factors influencing intestinal blood-flow velocity in preterm infants during the early neonatal period. Materials and methods. We measured blood-flow velocity in the superior mesenteric artery by pulsed Doppler US in 44 uncomplicated infants with a gestational age of less than 34 weeks and from 1 to 6 days of age. Results. Time-averaged mean blood-flow velocity significantly increased with age from 1 to 6 days old. There was a significant correlation of time-averaged mean blood-flow velocity with birth weight at 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 days of age and with the amount of enteral feeding from 4 to 6 days of age. Multivariate analysis showed that partial correlation of time-averaged mean blood-flow velocity with birth weight at 2 days of age and that with the amount of enteral feeding at 5 days of age were significant. End-diastolic blood-flow velocity was significantly lower at 1 day of age in infants with patent ductus arteriosus than those without it. Conclusions. Age, birth weight, the amount of enteral feeding and patent ductus arteriosus are included in the determinants of intestinal blood-flow velocity in preterm infants.