Effects of Jaundice and Phototherapy on Gastric Emptying in the Newborn

Gastric emptying rate was measured in term infants without jaundice, with mild jaundice, and with moderate jaundice before and after phototherapy. Gastric emptying was significantly delayed in the moderately jaundiced infants (serum unconjugated bilirubin 233-332 mumol/l) but returned to normal following phototherapy. Mild jaundice (serum unconjugated bilirubin 170-204 mumol/l) had no effect on gastric emptying. Jaundice appears to inhibit gastric emptying, and phototherapy influences emptying indirectly by lowering serum bilirubin concentration. This effect is likely to be of clinical significance in a small minority of jaundiced infants.