The early postnatal blood flow characteristics in the superior mesenteric and coeliac arteries in late preterm neonates.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate intestinal blood flow changes within the first 72 h in the late preterm infants in comparison with the healthy term neonates.

Methods: In this prospective study, we analyzed Doppler flow velocity waveforms of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and coeliac trunc (TC) in 20 late preterm and 20 term infants at the age of 2, 24, and 72 h.

Results: Significant end-diastolic velocity (end-diastolic velocity (EDV)) rise up to 24 h was documented in all patients (late preterm: -9.