RT Book, Section
A1 Gomella, Tricia Lacy
A1 Eyal, Fabien G.
A1 Bany-Mohammed, Fayez
SR Print(0)
ID 1168357955
T1 Meconium Aspiration
T2 Gomella's Neonatology: Management, Procedures, On-Call Problems, Diseases, and Drugs, 8e
YR 2020
FD 2020
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781259644818
LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1168357955
RD 2024/04/23
AB Meconium  is  the  first  intestinal  discharge  of  the  newborn  infant.  In  addition  to  epithelial  cells,  fetal  hair,  mucus,  and  bile,  meconium  also  contains  a  number  of  proinflammatory  components.  With  the  passage  of  meconium  in  utero,  the  meconium-stained  amniotic  fluid  (MSAF)  may  be  aspirated.  The  presence  of  MSAF  in  the  trachea  can  cause  airway  obstruction.  With  aspiration  below  the  vocal  cords,  further  obstruction,  air  trapping,  and  an  inflammatory  response  can  result  in  severe  respiratory  distress.  Hallmarks  include  early  onset  of  respiratory  distress  in  an  infant  with  MSAF  who  presents  with  poor  lung  compliance,  hypoxemia,  and  a  characteristic  lung  radiograph.