The incidence and clinical features of meconium aspiration syndrome: a two-year neonatal intensive care experience

Objectives: The aim of this present study was to review the clinical characteristics, risk factors, frequency of meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), development and maternal demographic characteristics of the newborns born with meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) in our neonatal intensive care unit. Methods: The files of the patients hospitalized in our neonatal intensive care unit between July 31, 2015 and July 31, 2017 and who were diagnosed with MAS or MBAS were examined retrospectively. Results: A total of 1410 patients were included during this period. Of these patients, 98 were term infants and 3 (34 weeks) were preterm infants. One hundred and one infants (7.1%) had MSAF and/or MAS. Of the patients, 63 were boys, 38 were girls. MAS developed in 61 patients (60.3%) who were hospitalized due to MBAS. No difference was detected between two groups in terms of the systemic diseases, age, pregnancy number, gestation week, delivery type, length of hospital stay of mother and birth weight of infant. The fifth minute Apgar score and need for resuscitation were found to be statistically significant in patients with MAS. We did not have any mortality. Conclusion: MAS frequency decreases in parallel with the developments in neonatal care but it is still a major cause of mortality and morbidity. We believe that chance of mortality and morbidity will decrease thanks to the close follow-up and early treatment in infants born with MSAF who are likely to develop MAS.