Meconium Aspiration and its Treatment

Every parent expects a sound delivery and a healthy baby. Meconium is the intestinal discharge excreted by the baby after birth. If there are complications in the delivery process, the amniotic fluid is stained with meconium before birth which may be aspirated by the baby. Meconium aspiration in a fetus can occur before or during the delivery and needs immediate attention. Meconium is dark green in color and sticky, and if it is inhaled into the lungs, the baby may have a meconium aspiration problem.

Meconium aspiration is also known as meconium aspiration syndrome. The aspirated meconium can completely block baby's airways. As a result, the baby finds it difficult to breathe. It leads to chemical irritation in the lung tissue, airway obstruction and inactivation of surfactant.

Signs and Symptoms

Babies suffer from this problem due to infections within the uterus. Usually, the more meconium a neonate inhales, the more severe the condition becomes.

Some symptoms are

• Color of the infant's body becomes either blue (cyanosis) or green.
• Baby suffers from aspiration problem, like rapid breathing or transient cessation of respiration.
• Heart rate becomes lower before birth.
• Baby becomes weak and limp.

Treatment

Thanks to the rapid progress in medical science, there are advanced treatments available now for most of the hitherto complicated diseases. To prevent meconium aspiration in babies, there are some therapies. These treatments include:

• Oxygen therapy using oxygen hood or ventilation.
• Use of antibiotic drugs.
• Use of surfactant and inhalation of nitric oxide.

Sometimes meconium aspiration may lead to aspiration pneumonia. In such cases, lung rescue therapy is applicable. Let us take a look at various therapies used as treatment.

Use of DeLee Suction Apparatus
For immediate treatment of meconium aspiration DeLee suction apparatus should be put in the mouth of baby, before it starts to breathe or cry.

Surfactant Therapy
In this therapy, the blockage removal is achieved by utilizing an artificial surfactant in the lungs.

High-frequency Oscillation (HFO)
A special ventilator delivers a small amount of air-filled with extra oxygen into the lungs of the baby at high frequencies.

Rescue Therapy
Here nitric oxide is added to the oxygen in the ventilator. This ventilator enlarges the blood vessels and helps in reaching sufficient blood flow and oxygen to lungs of the baby.

Other Treatments
Other treatments include:

• Use of a warmer to maintain body temperature.
• Lightly tapping on the chest to loosen secretions.
• Saline solution is used to clear and wash the airway of thick meconium.

Prevention is better than cure. To save neonate from this disorder, we should take certain preventive measures. For example, if the pregnant woman faces any difficulty, she should inform the gynecologist/ obstetrician. To save the baby from meconium aspiration, regular evaluation is necessary, such as physical examination and chest X-ray should be taken. If BP, perfusion, or O2 saturation of the baby suddenly worsens, then immediately approach a doctor.