1. Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Presented by
Fred Hill, MA, RRT

2. Introduction
Meconium is contents of fetal bowel. Usually not released until after birth.
Usually sterile without odor
Thick, tar-like dark green to black material
Primarily a disease of term and postterm newborns with episodes of asphyxia before or during labor
Meconium passage before birth in ~ 10-20% of births
Aspiration occurs in ~ 50% of meconium stained newborns

3. Prevention
Intubation immediately following delivery with suction applied to ET tube in depressed meconium stained infant
Administration of 100% oxygen

4. Chest X-Ray
Irregular patchy infiltrates, often with hyperinflation

5. Treatment Hypoxemia treated with warmed, humidified oxygen
Mechanical ventilation with PEEP
Broad-spectrum antibiotics

6. Complications Pneumonia Pnemothorax: due to ball-valve phenomenon
Persistent pulmonary hypertension
Tachypnea that persists even after the need for oxygen has passed