Introduction
Meconium aspiration syndrome
(MAS), a major
cause
of
morbidity
and mortality in neonatal intensive care unit, is characterized by early
onset of respiratory distress in neonates born through meconium-stained
amniotic fluid (MSAF) with compatible radiological findings which cannot
be otherwise explained [1]. Rates of BPD vary from
0.78 to 3.6 per 1000 livebirth without born through MSAF, while the
incidence of which is approximately 1.7% to 35.8% in infants
born
through MSAF [1-4]. MAS remains a
life-threatening condition in
neonatal intensive care unit throughout the world, with a
case fatality rate ranging from
5% to 40%, along with short-term and long-term pulmonary and
neurodevelopmental sequelae [1,5-7].
Over the years, studies have sought to quest the risk factors for the
mortality of MAS. It was observed that required resuscitation in the
delivery room, birth asphyxia, lower birth weight, higher initial oxygen
requirement, persistent pulmonary hypertension, pneumothorax, and
myocardial dysfunction possess a potential relation to increased
mortality in MAS [8-10].
However, these risk factors were identified from term and post-term
neonate population which were at higher risk of being affected by MAS.
To our knowledge, little is known about factors contributing to
MAS-associated mortality in preterm infants in the absence of enough
cases. This study was designed to assess the risk factors with respect
to increasing mortality in preterm
neonates with MAS.