Experimental meconium aspiration: Effects of glucocorticoid treatment.

An animal model of meconium aspiration was developed to determine the efficacy of glucocorticoids in its treatment. Rabbit pups were made to aspirate either meconium or saline prior to the onset of respiration. Cortisol was administered in a random, blind fashion. Slight decrease in respiratory rate and less severe histopathologic changes in the lungs were seen in corticosteroid-treated animals. Survival was significantly decreased, without definite cause, in the glucocorticoid-treated animals whether or not they had aspirated meconium. Because of this decreased survival and the relatively insignificant improvement in clinical course and histopathology found with glucocorticoid treatment, we cannot recommend cortisol for the treatment of meconium aspiration.