Selective tracheal suctioning to prevent meconium aspiration syndrome

Objective: To analyze the incidence and outcome of meconium aspiration synd rome (MAS) at Al-Yamamah Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where meconium-sta ined babies have intrapartum obstetrical cleansing of the upper airways, fo llowing which depressed/asphyxiated babies are intubated and vigorous babie s are observed for 24 h. Method: The total live births, records of meconium -stained neonates who had intubations and of those observed, during a 6-yea r period were reviewed. Results: During this period, there were 85 562 live births. One in 325 births (0.27%) was complicated by MAS and the mortality rate was 7%. These figures concur with the reported incidence and mortalit y of MAS following routine combined obstetric-pediatric suction of airways at birth. Of the 265 cases of MAS that occurred during this period, 237 wer e in the intubated group and 28 in the observed group. The babies of the fo rmer group had severe disease compared with that of the latter. All mortali ty was from the intubated group. Conclusion: Adequate obstetrical cleansing of the upper airway in vigorous babies may obviate the need for endotrache al intubation; intubation of depressed babies following this treatment may be useful. (C) 1998 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.