Factors Leading To Meconium Aspiration Syndrome in Term- and Post-term Neonates

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) CA), 2019-09, Vol.11 (9), p.e5574-e5574
• Main Authors: Chand, Saroop, Salman, Aamna, Abbassi, Razia Mustafa, Siyal, Abdul Rehman, Ahmad, Fayaz M, Leghari, Abdul Lateef, Kabani, Ashmal Sami, Ali, Sajid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Babies; Birth weight; Cardiac arrhythmia; Cesarean section; Childbirth & labor; Diabetes; Health risk assessment; Heart rate; Hypertension; Industrialized nations; Morbidity; Mortality; Newborn babies; Obstetrics; Obstetrics/Gynecology; Pediatrics; Prenatal development; Risk factors; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.5574

BackgroundMeconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is considered a major cause of respiratory morbidity. It is a common issue encountered in the delivery room and newborn nursery. There is a need to identify the factors that lead to MAS to develop strategies to screen such patients at an early stage to decrease the mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study was to determine the factors leading to MAS in neonates delivered at ≥37 weeks of gestational age.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted through non-probability consecutive sampling technique at Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad from August 2016 to February 2017. All neonates at ≥37 weeks of gestation with meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) detected during delivery were included in this study after obtaining informed consent from their parents. The demographic and factors related to MAS were recorded through predesigned proforma and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Mean and standard deviation were determined for quantitative variables whereas frequency and percentages were calculated for qualitative variables.ResultsOverall 136 neonates were included in the study. The mean gestational age was 38 ± 1.43 weeks. The major factors for MAS were detected as fetal distress (67.0%, n = 91), non-reassuring fetal heart rate (54.0%, n = 73), cesarean birth (48.0%, n = 65), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR; 17.0%, n = 23), and post maturity (12.0%, n = 16).ConclusionWe conclude that the major factors for MAS are fetal distress, non-reassuring FHR tracing, cesarean birth, IUGR, and post maturity. Screening of such patients at an early stage may minimize morbidity and mortality related to MAS.