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Meconium Aspiration Syndrome, Pediatric

Hussnain S. Mirza, MD, FAAP and Thomas E. Wiswell, MD Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is a clinical diagnosis defined as respiratory distress in a newborn delivered through meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) with no other explana...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Term or postterm gestation

  • Abnormal fetal heart rate

  • Evidence of MSAF

  • Low Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes

  • Respiratory distress at or shortly after birth

PHYSICAL EXAM

  • Meconium staining (voca...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Neonatal ICU care

    • For Spo2 and continuous cardiopulmonary monitoring, to provide optimal thermal environment, and to ensure minimal handling

  • Chest percussion or physiotherapy i...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Long-term consequences include increased bronchial reactivity and wheezing among the survivors of MAS.

  • Infants with severe MAS are at risk for adverse neurodevelop...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Chettri S, Adhisivam B, Bhat BV. Endotracheal suction for nonvigorous neonates born through meconium stained amniotic fluid: a randomized controlled trial. J Pediatr.  2015;166...

CODES

ICD9

  • 770.12 Meconium aspiration with respiratory symptoms

  • 770.11 Meconium aspiration without respiratory symptoms

ICD10

  • P24.01 Meconium aspiration with respiratory symptoms

  • P24.00 Meconium aspiration...

FAQ

  • Q: What is the composition of meconium?

  • A: Meconium is a variable mixture of intestinal epithelial debris, gastrointestinal secretions, bile, mucus, pancreatic juice, blood, swallowed vernix caseos...

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