OBJECTIVE: To quantify the current perinatal consequences associated with intrapartum detection of meconium in the amniotic fluid (AF). METHODS: We compared retrospectively the outcomes in 8136 term singleton cephalic pregnancies with meconium and 34,573 similar pregnancies with clear AF. RESULTS: Virtually all measures of adverse fetal-neonatal outcomes were significantly increased with meconium. For example, perinatal mortality increased from 0.3 per 1000 births with clear AF to 1.5 deaths per 1000 with meconium (P < .001). Most of these deaths resulted from meconium aspiration. Other unwanted outcomes also increased; eg, severe fetal acidemia at birth (umbilical artery blood pH 7.00 or less) increased from three per 1000 to seven per 1000 when meconium was diagnosed (P < .001). Delivery by cesarean also increased with meconium, from 7 to 14% (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Meconium in the AF is an obstetric hazard with small but significantly increased risks of adverse fetal-neonatal outcomes.
OBJECTIVE: To quantify the current perinatal consequences associated with intrapartum detection of meconium in the amniotic fluid (AF). METHODS: We compared retrospectively the outcomes in 8136 term singleton cephalic pregnancies with meconium and 34,573 similar pregnancies with clear AF. RESULTS: Virtually all measures of adverse fetal-neonatal outcomes were significantly increased with meconium. For example, perinatal mortality increased from 0.3 per 1000 births with clear AF to 1.5 deaths per 1000 with meconium (P < .001). Most of these deaths resulted from meconium aspiration. Other unwanted outcomes also increased; eg, severe fetal acidemia at birth (umbilical artery blood pH 7.00 or less) increased from three per 1000 to seven per 1000 when meconium was diagnosed (P < .001). Delivery by cesarean also increased with meconium, from 7 to 14% (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Meconium in the AF is an obstetric hazard with small but significantly increased risks of adverse fetal-neonatal outcomes.
Authors: Heather A Frey; Methodius G Tuuli; Anthony L Shanks; George A Macones; Alison G Cahill Journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol Date: 2014-06-17 Impact factor: 8.661