GASTRIC MYOELECTRICAL ACTIVITY IN PREMATURE AND TERM INFANTS

Electrogastrography is a non-invasive method for recording gastric myo electrical activity. The aims of this study were to record gastric myo electrical activity in newborn infants using electrogastrographic meth ods and to compare frequency distributions of postprandial electrogast rograms (EGGs) recorded after gavage feedings. Nineteen infants with g estational ages ranging from 28 weeks to term were studied. Group I su bjects were studied only after formula feedings (n = 15) and were divi ded by age into subgroups A, B and C: A (term, n = 4), B (33-36 weeks, n = 4), and C (28-32 weeks, n = 7). Group II infants (32-34 weeks, n = 4) were studied before and after gavage feeding. The percentage of t otal EGG power was calculated for four frequency ranges: 1-2.4 cpm (br adygastria); 2.5-3.6 cpm (normal range); 3.7-9.9 cpm (tachygastria); a nd 10(-15) cpm (duodenal/respiratory). Results showed no significant d ifferences in postprandial EGG power in these frequency ranges among t he Group I infants of different gestational ages. The power in these E GG frequency ranges did not change significantly after gavage feedings in the Group II infants. In conclusion: (a) EGGs may be recorded succ essfully from preterm and term infants, (b) postprandial gastric myoel ectrical activity in all frequency bands is similar among groups of pr emature and term infants, and (c) gavage feedings in premature infants did not increase 3 cpm EGG activity.