title: Endotracheal Suction for Nonvigorous Neonates Born through Meconium Stained Amniotic Fluid: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether endotracheal suctioning of nonvigorous infants born through meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) reduces the risk and complications of meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Term, nonvigorous babies born through MSAF were randomized to endotracheal suction and no-suction groups (n=61 in each). Risk of MAS, complications of MAS and endotracheal suction, mortality, duration of neonatal intensive care unit stay, and neurodevelopmental outcome at 9 months were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal age, consistency of meconium, mode of delivery, birth weight, sex, and Apgar scores were similar in the groups. In total, 39 (32%) neonates developed MAS and 18 (14.8%) of them died. There were no significant differences in MAS, its severity and complications, mortality, and neurodevelopmental outcome for the 2 groups. One infant had a complication of endotracheal suctioning, which was mild and transient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current practice of routine endotracheal suctioning for nonvigorous neonates born through MSAF should be further evaluated.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinical Trial Registry of India: CTRI/2013/03/003469.
authors: Neonatology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, India.
authors: Subhash
authors: S
authors: Chettri
authors: Neonatology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, India.
authors: Bethou
authors: B
authors: Adhisivam
authors: Neonatology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, India. Electronic address: drvishnubhat@yahoo.com.
authors: B Vishnu
authors: BV
authors: Bhat
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D008470:Meconium; D008471:Meconium Aspiration Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods*