Abstract
The effect of posture on the pattern of gastric emptying was studied in 14 healthy neonates, ages 5-27 days. Mean (± S.E.) birth wt. was 2.3 ± .04g (range 1740-2520g) and gestation, 36.7 ±.2 (range 32-42wk). Fifty-six test meals of 10% dextrose with phenol red(.03mg/dl) as a marker were given over 2-3 min. The infants were studied in each of four positions: right, left, prone and supine and the postural sequence was varied. The emptying pattern was determined by the double sampling dye dilution technique. Samples were taken at 20 min intervals for 2 hours. The time in min for 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 of the original volume to leave the stomach is shown in the table: The percentage of the test meal remaining in the stomach at 20 min was similar in each of the 4 positions and ranged from 51.4% to 57.6%. There was no correlation with gestational age. The pattern of emptying was characterized by an initial rapid phase of 2.3% per min for the first 20 min followed by an exponential pattern at a rate of .2-.6% per min for the remaining time. The results indicate that posture does not appear to influence the rate or pattern of neonatal gastric emptying.
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