Prematurity and Phototherapy Associated Changes in Mesenteric Blood Flow in Response to Feeding Using the Ultrasound Pulsed Doppler

Abstract

Intestinal disturbances such as abdominal distension and increased passage of loose watery stools are commonly observed in neonates receiving phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia. A suggestion of a compensatory peripheral vasoconstriction as a mechanism to redistribute blood flow to the gut to accommodate increased intestinal metabolic demand was done by Yao, et al, 1994. They also noted that infants receiving phototherapy have an increase of peripheral blood flow.

In pretenn infants, there is increased incidence of cerebral hemorrhage and NEC due to difference in postnatal circulatory adaptation and circulatory response to feeding as compared with full tenn. ( Martinussen, et al, 1996)