Doppler US measurement of the superior mesenteric artery blood flow in children and adolescents

Abstract

Blood flow volume in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) measured by pulsed Doppler has been used in adults to evaluate Crohn disease but has not been utilized in children and adolescents. To establish a cutoff point for normal SMA blood flow using pulsed Doppler US measurement in healthy children and adolescents. The study included healthy volunteers from an urban community, divided into two age groups, children (5-9years) and adolescents (10-17years). Anthropometric measurements included waist circumference and body surface area classified according to the z-score of body mass index. Heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and temperature were measured immediately before US evaluation. The average age of the 60 participants was 12.2years. Of these, 21 (35%) were ages 5-9years and 39 (65%) were ages 10-17years; 21 (35%) were boys. Findings of the two examiners coincided for 58 of the 60 (96.7%) participants. SMA blood flow was significantly lower in the children (mean ± SD = 556 ± 122ml/min) than in adolescents (mean ± SD 775 ± 311ml/min) (P < 0.001). SMA blood flow showed statistically significant positive associations with body surface area. We found that superior mesenteric artery blood flow is significantly lower in children than in adolescents and is associated with body surface area.