A Clinical Study Of Meconium Stained Amniotic Fluid And Its Maternal And Perinatal Outcome In A Tertiary Centre

Abstract

Objective: The major goal of clinical evaluation of meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) with maternal and perinatal outcomes at a tertiary center.

Methods: The fetal heart rates, newborn APGAR scores, and problems of 286 women who had meconium after natural or surgical membrane rupture were reported. The study included laboring patients that met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were examined and given a comprehensive history. Labor management was the same for all study subjects.

Results: Meconium-stained liquor (MSA) was present in 6.13% of samples. It was statistically significant that thick meconium (47.39%) was associated with greater fetal heart rate anomalies than thin meconium (13.33%). The study found a significant correlation between APGAR score and MAS, with 5 out of 45 babies in the severely asphyxiated group having MAS and the rest having normal meconium thickness. No infants had MAS who had an APGAR >7. Neonatal mortality and morbidity from MAS were seen in 20(40%) cases and 13(26%) cases, respectively.

Conclusion: Meconium's importance in amniotic fluid is a hotly contested topic. Meconium has historically been thought to be a symptom of fetal discomfort brought on by hypoxia. However, it is now understood to be a gastrointestinal tract symptom of normal maturation. It's still considered a global indicator of subpar pregnancy and delivery outcomes. The presence of thick meconium warrants attention because it has been linked to an increase in fetal morbidity and mortality.