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.
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