Meconium Aspiration Syndrome: Analysis of Case Report

https://doi.org/10.46610/JAPP.2023.v05i01.004

Abstract

Introduction: The first stool of a newborn child is meconium.  Meconium is a sticky material composed of denuded intestinal epithelium cells, bile acid, amniotic fluid, swallowed lanugo hair, digestive enzymes, water and mucus. Post-term infants are more likely to have meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF). Meconium aspiration syndrome, a leading cause of severe illness and death in newborns, occurs in about 5 per cent to 10 per cent of births.

Case study: A newborn male baby was admitted to the Neonatal Care Unit with the chief complaints of Term, vacuum extraction and thick MSAF and Respiratory Distress skin colour was found to be dark green in the chest and dorsal limb of the body. Breath sound was found to be abnormal with grunting sounds on examination with a stethoscope. The patient’s Clinical symptoms include the appearance of skin colour, and breath sound and Chest radiography shows the diagnosis of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS). The patient was treated with O₂ through nasal continuous positive airway pressure, fluid management was based on daily body weight and antibiotics like ampicillin and gentamicin was administered at the time of admission. The Patients caretaker was advised to Kangaroo mother care and direct breastfeeding.

Conclusion: Over the years, medication and care for newborns with meconium aspiration have evolved and changed. Prophylactic antibiotic therapy in MAS does not change the prognosis of patients. In newborns with extreme and recurrent hypoxemia caused by MAS, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been utilised as a last-resort therapy. Nevertheless, there are still several techniques for preventing and treating meconium aspiration syndrome; therefore research should continue to diminish illness and death caused by Meconium aspiration syndrome.