Abstract
Objective: Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is one of the serious and life-threatening disorders in newborn infants and is still one of the most challenged neonatal diseases. This study was conducted in order to determine the efficacy of steroid use in the management of this syndrome.
Study Design & Period and Place of study: A prospective study of twelve months period in the neonatal intensive care unit was carried out at Rajah Muthiah Medical College & Hospital, Chidambaram.
Materials and Methods: We included Sixty (60) babies with MAS which were then distributed randomly into two groups i.e. Group A (n = 30), patients in this group served as controls and Group B (n = 30), patients who were treated with steroids served as study group. Injectable dexamethasone was administered @ 0.5mg/kg/dose q12h for the first 3 days & 0.25mg/kg/dose q-12-h for the next 4 days along with supportive treatment. Non steroid group received only supportive care (control group). Infants in present trial were evaluated on the basis of duration of stay at hospital, requirement of ventilatory support and occurrence of pneumothorax.
Results: We observed a statistically significant difference in the duration of stay between the two groups. There was also a difference in the requirement of ventilator support and occurrence of pneumothorax in the study, but it was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: The conclusion of our study is that steroids revealed shorter duration of stay, less ventilator requirement and less morbidity in newborns with MAS. Thus steroid therapy has a favourable effect on the outcome on MAS in newborn.
Keywords: Meconium aspiration syndrome, Newborn infants, Steroids.
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Corresponding Author
Dr Sangeetha.T
MD- Post Graduate, Department of Pediatrics
Rajah Muthiah Medical College, Chidambaram
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i5.214
