Meconium Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is meconium?
Technical term for “baby poop” + made up of undigestible material in the amniotic fluid that the fetus swallows. Also includes mucus, bile, and pancreatic secretions.
What are the degrees of meconium staining + what is used as the basis for assessment?
Light, moderate, and thick. Each degree is assessed based on viscosity, color, and quantity.
Describe light-staining meconium.
Watery, translucent, may be yellow/greenish or brown, without particulate matter.
If smeared on newsprint, it would still be readable (Anne Frye)
What characteristics define moderate-staining meconium?
Darker in color, probably still watery, may contain particulate matter.
Smearing it on newsprint would make it tough to read.(Anne Frye)
What is thick meconium described as?
Newsprint would be impossible to read with this kind of meconium. Having a ‘pea soup’ consistency, thick, viscous, opaque, containing particulate matter.
What does MAS stand for?
Meconium aspiration syndrome
What is the prognosis for infants who aspirate meconium?
95% can clear their lungs spontaneously without suction. The remaining 5% may have lung damage due to prolonged intrauterine asphyxia.
What percentage of babies with meconium staining develop MAS?
About 10%
MAS occurs when meconium is aspirated into the lower airways.
What are the consequences of MAS?
Airway obstruction, interference with alveolar exchange, chemical pneumonitis, surfactant dysfunction
It increases the risk of pulmonary infection and severe respiratory distress.
What can complete bronchial obstruction lead to?
Collapse of the lung (atelectasis)
Partial blocking may result in air trapping and tension pneumothorax.
What should be done if thick or particulate meconium is present?
Care should be transferred unless birth is imminent
This is important due to the correlation with fetal hypoxia.
What is the first step after the baby is born if it is vigorous?
Place it on the mom or bed and observe
Routine care can proceed if the baby has HR >100, is spontaneously crying/breathing, and has flexed or flailing extremities.
What should be done if the baby is not vigorous after birth?
Swiftly cut the cord and move the infant for neonatal resuscitation
Care should be taken to minimize stimulation and avoid chilling the baby.
True or False: Intubation is a standard protocol for all cases of meconium aspiration syndrome.
False
The discussion around intubation may be confusing as it is not always performed.
Incidence of MAS?
It develops in 2 out of every 1000 live-born infants.
