Pediatric research
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Comparative Study
Mesenteric blood flow velocity and its relation to circulatory adaptation during the first week of life in healthy term infants.
We investigated early postnatal changes of the mesenteric circulation and its relationship to the systemic circulation in two groups of newborn infants. Group I (n = 10) was studied before the first feeding at 1 h and preprandially at 6 and 24 h. Group II (n = 10) was studied before the first feeding at 2 h of age and preprandially and postprandially at d 3, 4, and 5. ⋯ Middle cerebral artery Vmean increased from h 2 to d 3 with a further increase on d 4 (p < 0.01). This increase was associated with an increase in blood pressure. The relative fraction of CO to middle cerebral artery increased during the first days of life, suggesting a redistribution of blood flow to the metabolically active organs in the neonatal period.