title: Risk factors for meconium-aspiration syndrome.
abstract: The aim of this retrospective study was to identify risk factors for meconium-aspiration syndrome, and to identify antenatal and intrapartum risk factors which might be preventable. We analyzed maternal and neonatal records of the 210 infants who had meconium-stained liquor and who also developed respiratory distress necessitating admission to the Special Care of Intensive Care Baby Units at National Women's Hospital, Auckland in 1992. Meconium-aspiration syndrome occurred in 6.6% of meconium exposed babies and in 1.3% of total births. Severe meconium-aspiration syndrome developed in 18 infants, moderate in 48, mild in 60 respiratory distress in 84. An association was found between meconium aspiration syndrome and primiparity (p = 0.001) and Pacific Island ethnicity (p = 0.0002). An association was also found between the severity of meconium and low umbilical artery pH (p = 0.0002). Thick meconium and an abnormal cardiotocograph were more common in severe meconium-aspiration syndrome. All deaths and long-term morbidity occurred in babies with abnormal cardiotocographs or in unmonitored infants. Preventable antenatal and intrapartum factors were not identified in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Women's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Urbaniak
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: McCowan
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Townend
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015148:Cardiotocography; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008471:Meconium Aspiration Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors