Sonographic evaluation of antepartum development of fetal gastric motility.

OBJECTIVE

Little is known about the development of fetal gastric motility and emptying. The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of gastric motility sonographically in the human fetus.

METHODS

The motility and peristalsis of the fetal stomach were sonographically studied in 76 normal fetuses at 12-39 weeks of gestation. Fetal gastric motility was assessed by videotaping real-time ultrasonic images of the stomach for periods of 60 or more minutes.

RESULTS

Gastric peristalsis appeared as early as 14 weeks of gestation, and was detected in all fetuses by 23 weeks. The frequency of peristaltic waves was constant, and was 2.2-3 times per minute at 14-39 weeks of gestation. The onset of fetal gastric peristalsis was sporadic and the period with no peristaltic waves was dominant before 24 weeks of gestation. Fetal gastric peristalsis increased and consolidated into long-term clusters from 24 weeks of gestation. The mean duration of peristalsis increased from 4.1 +/- 1.2 min (n = 6) at 20-23 weeks to 14.1 +/- 3.2 min (n = 14) at 32-35 weeks of gestation, and remained constant thereafter.

CONCLUSIONS

Fetal gastric motility was quantified and its development during pregnancy was assessed in this study. There was a critical point of development at around 24-25 weeks of gestation when grouped peristalsis was observed in all fetuses.