Pediatric anesthesia & critical care
Comparison of gastric emptying time between breast‐fed and formula milk‐fed infants less than 6 months old, using gastric ultrasound—An observational study
Authors' conclusion
In our series, the gastric emptying times in breast-fed and formula-fed infants less than 6 months old were similar.
Study context
- Population
- Infants less than 6 months old, tertiary care center in India
- Participants
- 52 participants
- Exposure
- Breast-fed vs formula milk-fed infants
- Breast-fedn = 26reference
- Formula milk-fedn = 26
- Outcome
- Gastric emptying time (bull's eye appearance of antrum or antral cross-sectional area <3.07 cm²) by gastric ultrasound
Methodological detailssingle-centre, gastric ultrasound
- Single-centre
- Gastric ultrasound
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Gastric emptying time (Schmitz's formula)
| Group | Value | 95% CI | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breast-fed | mean 0.35 (SD 0.68) h | 0.35 ± 0.185 | 0.165-0.535 |
| Formula milk-fed | mean 0.35 (SD 0.69) h | 0.35 ± 0.188 | 0.162-0.538 |
Value
Breast-fedmean 0.35 (SD 0.68) h
Formula milk-fedmean 0.35 (SD 0.69) h
95% CI
Breast-fed0.35 ± 0.185
Formula milk-fed0.35 ± 0.188
Range
Breast-fed0.165-0.535
Formula milk-fed0.162-0.538
- Formula milk-fed vs Breast-fed: P = 0.73 — neither clinically nor statistically different
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Breast-fed | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Gastric emptying time, Spencer's formulaFormula-fed vs Breast-fed · neither clinically nor statistically different | mean 0.12 (SD 0.33) h | P = 0.13 |
| 95% CI | 0.12 ± 0.09 | |
| Range | 0.03-0.21 | |
| Antral cross-sectional area >3.07 cm² (aspiration risk cut-off) beyond 1 h | 53.84% | |
| Antral cross-sectional area >3.07 cm² beyond 3 h | 0 events |
- Gastric emptying time, Spencer's formula: Formula-fed mean 0.04 (SD 0.20) h · 95% CI 0.04 ± 0.05 · range −0.01 to 0.09
- Antral cross-sectional area >3.07 cm² (aspiration risk cut-off) beyond 1 h: Formula-fed 65.38%
- Antral cross-sectional area >3.07 cm² beyond 3 h: Formula-fed 3.84%
Original publication
Comparison of gastric emptying time between breast‐fed and formula milk‐fed infants less than 6 months old, using gastric ultrasound—An observational study. Paediatr Anaesth. Published 7 February 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →