In the present study, majority of cases of respiratory distress were due to
meconium aspiration syndrome followed by hyaline membrane disease.
Demographics information included gestational age, gender and birth weight of baby, medical and obstetric complications during pregnancy, mode of delivery, neonatal outcome (
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS) and need for admission in nursery) were recorded on a pre-designed proforma.
At autopsy, the pathologist concluded that the cause of death was
meconium aspiration and pneumonia, but noted "[m]other's history of drug abuse" as an underlying cause of death, with no apparent support for the statement.
Obstetrics experience throughout the era showed that
meconium passage is a possible threatening sign of foetal asphyxia,8 while the reported incidence of
meconium stained amniotic fluid is 1-18%.9
Meconium staining of liquor has long been thought to be a conventional sign of foetal distress, but now CTG is an up-to-date practical method for foetal surveillance during pregnancy and labour.10 The current study was conducted to identify the relationship between colours of liquor with the trace of CTG, whether reactive or non-reactive, as well as to APGAR score.
Meconium provides key essential information about fetal exposure to toxic substances and may provide the groundwork for protecting the newborn from further damage [15,16].
Risk factors for severe MAS include thick
meconium and an abnormal fetal heart rate.
Plain film diagnosis in
meconium plug syndrome,
meconium ileus and neonatal Hirschsprung's disease.
All patients having
meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) who survived with age 60/min) and cyanosis (S P O 2 <87%).
The
meconium had been detected in Rochelle's waters at the birthing centre but the newly-qualified midwife, failing to understand its significance, and did not take action for 40 minutes.
494 (48.43%) followed by neonatal sepsis which were 200 (19.61%), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) 74 (7.25%), neonatal jaundice 65 (6.37%),
meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) 53 (5.20%), birth asphyxia (BAS) 51 (5%), transient tachypnea of newborn (TTN) 40 (3.92%), congenital malformations 27 (2.65%), infant of diabetic mother 9 (0.88%), neonatal seizures 6 (0.59%) and hemorrhagic disease of the newborn 1 (0.10%).
One of these factors may be the presence of
meconium. In a prospective cohort of more than 3,000 women with category II tracings, the presence of meconium--especially thick
meconium --was associated with a higher risk of acidemia and neonatal morbidity than was the absence of
meconium.
They were dark brown and stained with
meconium - the baby's waste - which is a sign it was in distress.