Diagnosis And Treatment Of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Diagnosing meconium aspiration system can occur as follows:
Blood Gas Testing To Determine If There Is A Low pH
X-Ray Of The Chest For The Presence Of Streak Or Patchy Areas In The Lungs
Listening To Breathing Patterns Of The Baby Through The Use Of A Stethoscope
The baby not receiving enough oxygen is one of the main areas of concern when meconium aspiration syndrome is present. A reduced level of oxygen can be the result of fetal hypoxia and HIE. When this occurs, doctors cannot delay an emergency C-section when signs show that the baby is unable to tolerate a vaginal delivery. If the doctor is inexperienced with dealing with a baby who is suffering from meconium aspiration syndrome, assistance must be requested to prevent injury. Many hospitals deploy a NICU team when meconium-stained fluid is detected. The following methods can be utilized to treat meconium aspiration syndrome:
The Use Of A Trachea: The doctor removing meconium from the windpipe.
A Bag & Mask: This method helps the baby breathe. The baby usually presents themselves with a low heart rate while the bag and mask will assist in getting oxygen to the baby’s lungs.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Treatment
Warmer: Used to help with the baby’s body temperature
Antibiotics: Used to help fight infection
Ventilator/Breathing Machine
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO): A machine acts as the baby’s lungs and heart while the baby’s lungs begin to heal from the injury. ECMO is utilized when the other treatments are unable to work.
Quick Links
HIE
Cerebral Palsy
Meconium
FAQs
Resources
Glossary
Contact
Latest Articles
The Hidden Hours Before a Baby’s HIE Injury
After a baby receives a diagnosis of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), a mother's mind often becomes a landscape of questions. She replays the labor, searching for a missed signal, a subtle change, a moment she should have recognized. This search is...
Why Some HIE Cases Are Harder To Prove Than They Seem
For families navigating an HIE brain injury diagnosis, the legal path can feel confusing. A common point of uncertainty arises when different attorneys review the same medical records and reach opposite conclusions. One lawyer may decline the case, while...
Breaking Down APGAR Scores Of 0 3 And 5 In Baby HIE Cases
For families navigating a hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) diagnosis, APGAR scores are often the first numbers they learn. While these scores are critical, they are also among the most misunderstood aspects of their baby's story. What APGAR Scores...
What Is HIE In Babies?
Families often first hear the term HIE in the hours or days after their baby is born and they then learn what is HIE in babies. It usually happens quickly, often in the NICU, and it can come as a shock, especially after a pregnancy that appeared normal...
Follow Us
Join Our Newsletter
ADVERTISEMENT. The information presented on this website should not be construed to be formal legal advice. The use of this website does not establish an attorney-client relationship; however, your responses here will be kept strictly confidential. Any results set forth herein are based upon the facts of that particular case and do not represent a promise or guarantee of future outcomes. Services not available in all states based on this communication. The attorneys of Boston Law Group, LLC have represented clients throughout the United States. They practice subject to court approval in states where they are not members of the bar. An attorney client relationship can only be created through a signed, executed engagement letter. Lawyers who will provide services advertised on this website and who are responsible for this website’s content are principally located at Boston Law Group, LLC, 9701 Apollo Drive, Suite 100, Largo, MD 20774.