Meconium Aspiration Syndrome |
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Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
 Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Treatment In instances where meconium aspiration does occur, specific treatments may depend on the amount and thickness of the meconium, length of time your baby was exposed to it and the severity of the respiratory problems your baby is experiencing.
If a mother's amniotic fluid appears to have meconium, a technique called amnioinfusion may be used during labor. This procedure inserts a small tube into the uterus through the vagina to infuse the amniotic fluid with sterile fluid, which may help to dilute the meconium.
Other treatments preformed at delivery may include:
- Suctioning of the baby's upper airways, including the nose, mouth and throat
- Supplemental oxygen given by hood or mechanical ventilator
- Chest physiotherapy, a technique of tapping on the baby's chest to loosen secretions
- Antibiotics to treat infection
- Radiant warmer to maintain your baby's body temperature
Another treatment option is mechanical ventilation, used to keep your baby's lungs inflated. This method uses a machine called a ventilator or respirator to improve the exchange of air between the lungs and atmosphere when patients cannot breathe sufficiently on their own. This technique is usually done in the intensive care nursery.
Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 8, 2007
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