title: Intratracheal suctioning, systemic infection, and the meconium aspiration syndrome.
abstract: A retrospective analysis was performed to determine: (1) the proportion of neonates with the meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) who were not depressed at birth; (2) to evaluate the clinical course of neonates with MAS, particularly relating to whether or not delivery room intubation and intratracheal suctioning had taken place; and (3) to examine the incidence of culture-proven bacteremia among meconium-stained neonates and those with MAS. The medical records of all meconium-stained neonates and those with MAS admitted to our facility from 1985 through 1989 were reviewed. Of 5697 liveborn neonates, 741 (13%) were meconium-stained, of whom 608 (82%) were intubated and suctioned in the delivery room. No complications of the intubation/suctioning procedure were noted in these neonates. Forty-five neonates had culture-proven bacteremia. Five bacteremic neonates had been meconium-stained (0.7% of all such neonates), while 40 were not stained (0.8% incidence). Of 36 neonates with MAS, 1 (2.8%) was bacteremic. Twenty (56%) of 36 newborns with MAS did not require positive pressure ventilation in the delivery room. Twelve (33%) of the babies with MAS had not been intubated and suctioned in the delivery room. Nine (75%) of 12 nonsuctioned neonates, as well as 6 (25%) of 24 suctioned neonates, required mechanical ventilation for more than 6 hours (P = .010). Pneumothoraces occurred in 6 (50%) of 12 nonsuctioned and 5 (21%) of 24 suctioned babies (P = .125). Four of 12 nonsuctioned newborns either died (n = 1) or required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (n = 3), while only 1 of the suctioned newborns required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (P = .034).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307-5001.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Wiswell
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Henley
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008471:Meconium Aspiration Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013396:Suction; D016896:Treatment Outcome