Meconium Aspiration Syndrome

Meconium is a type of feces that develops in a fetus's intestines prior to birth and has a dark green color. A infant with meconium aspiration syndrome breaths a mixture of amniotic fluid and meconium into the lungs shortly after delivery.

Causes

• MAS may occur when your baby experiences stress. When the fetus has less oxygen available to it, stress frequently results. Fetal stress is frequently brought on by:
  • An ongoing pregnancy after the due date (more than 40 weeks).
  • Long or difficult labor.
  • The mother's health problems, such as diabetes or hypertension (high blood pressure),
  • A contamination.
• Diabetic mother
  • High blood pressure in the pregnant mother.

Pathophysiology

Stress during labor may cause the fetal intestine to move more and the anal sphincter to loosen, which could lead to meconium passing into the adjacent amniotic fluid. If the child breathes while still in the uterus or while still being covered by this fluid after birth, the combination could reach the lungs and partially or fully clog the infant's airways.

Signs and Symptoms

• Breathing problems
• Lacking breathing
• The color of the amniotic fluid is green.
• Green stains may appear on a baby's skin.
• Respiration that is laborious and rapid, with the amniotic fluid looking green.
• Birth immaturity
• Skin wrinkling
• Loss of weight

Diagnosis

• Baby's birth appearance.
• Inspection of the body.
• Analysis of blood gases.
• A chest x-ray.

Treatment

The baby's throat and nose are suctioned as soon as the head is delivered, and if the infant continues to appear sicker and experience breathing difficulties, the laryngoscope is used to continue suctioning meconium from beneath the vocal cords.

Other treatments includes:

• Move the infant to the special care area.
• In order to treat and prevent infection, use antibiotics.
• To maintain body temperature, keep the environment warm.
• Observe the vital signs.
• On a ventilator, keep an eye on the baby's health.
• apping the chest to break up a clot.
• By intravenous infusion, maintain nutrients and hydration levels.
• Place a nasogastric tube in and maintain zero oral intake.
• Keep the intake and outflow chart current.

Prevention

• Early maternal and fetal status monitoring and fast action.
• Encourage delivery in a hospital.

Nursing Consideration

• Evaluation of the fetus and newborn.
• Clearing of the airways and preservation of breathing
• Watch your body temperature and vital indicators.
• Follow the treatment plan.
• Therapy for the chest.
• If necessary, special treatment in a neonatal intensive care unit.
• Maintain nourishment by breastfeeding, express breast milk, and IV infusion.
• Keep an eye out for complications like fever, vomiting, seizures, and breathing problems.
• parental assistance

Complications

• Oxygen deprivation-induced brain damage
• Breathing difficulties
• Compromised lungs
• Infant with persistent pulmonary hypertension.

REFERENCE

Ahikari, R. K., & Krantz, M. E. (1997). Child nutrition and health (2nd ed.). Kathmandu: HLMC.

Chabers, A.M. (2007). Surgical nursing of children. India: Elsevier Private Limited.

Managing Newborn Problem: a guide for doctors, nurse, and midwives.

Potts, N., & Mandleco, B.L. (2007). Caring for children and their families (2nd ed.). India

Sharma, P.R. (2002). A handbook of pediatric problems. Kathmandu: HLMC

Shrestha, S., lohani, D., & Thakur, L, etal. (2000). Nursing care of children. Majahrajgunj Kathmandu: HLMC

Smeltzer, S.C., & Bare, B.B. (2004). Brunner Siddharth's, a textbook of medical surgical nursing (10th ed.). Lippincott: Williams and Wilkins.

Traumatic brain injury.com. 2001. <http://www.traumaticbraininjury.com/birth-trauma/meconium-aspiration-syndrome/>.

Tuitui, Roshani. Manual of Midwifery III. Kathmandu: Vidyarthi pustak Bhandar, 2014.

Wong, D.l., & Hockenberry, M.J. (1999). Nursing care of infants and children (7th ed.). London: Mosby.