DUPLEX-DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY OF CHANGES IN PORTAL-VEIN FLOW IN HEALTHY TERM NEWBORN-INFANTS AFTER FEEDING

To establish reference values for changes in portal venous diameter, a ngle-corrected maximal flow velocity, and flow in healthy term newborn infants after formula feeding, we studied 20 subjects using duplex Do ppler sonography. After feeding, portal venous diameter increased from 3.6 +/- 0.1 (mean +/- standard error of the mean) to 3.9 +/- 0.1 mm a t 15 min and decreased to 3.8 +/- 0.1 at 60 min. Maximal flow velocity increased from 24.1 +/- 1.3 cm/s to a maximum of 35.9 +/- 2.4 cm/s at 15 min and decreased to 28.8 +/- 1.5 cm/s at 60 min. Flow increased f rom 85.0 +/- 7.5 ml/min to a maximum of 153.6 +/- 14.9 ml/min at 15 mi n with decrease similar to the maximal flow velocity curve. We conclud e that formula feeding produces peak portal blood flows of nearly twic e the fasting values at 15 min after feeding and returns almost to fas ting value by 60 min.