GASTRIC-EMPTYING IS DELAYED AT 8-12 WEEKS GESTATION

Gastric emptying was studied indirectly by paracetamol absorption in 2 0 patients at 8-12 weeks gestation and also in 20 non-pregnant control s. Subjects received paracetamol 1.5 g in a tablet with 50 ml of water and remained semi-recumbent for 2 h while venous blood samples were o btained at 15-min intervals. The maximum concentration of paracetamol was significantly lower and the time to maximum concentration signific antly greater in pregnant patients. in addition, the areas under the t ime-concentration curves at 60 and 120 min were significantly smaller in the pregnant group. These changes are indicative of a delay in gast ric emptying at 8-12 weeks' gestation.