Introduction: Meconium aspiration syndrome is one of the most common causes of respiratory distress in the newborn. Risk of passage and aspiration of meconium increases as gestational age increases. Aspirated meconium can interfere with normal breathing by several mechanisms including airway obstruction, chemical irritation, infection and surfactant inactivation and this can lead on to many complication and even death.

Materials and Methods: It was a hospital based prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Assam. 100 neonates who developed features of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome were included in the study.

Results: 60% of babies showed some other complications in addition to MAS. Onset of respiratory distress in 82% of MAS babies was immediately after birth. 17 babies died and 83 were successfully discharged. Babies having low birth weight, Persistant Pulmonary Hypertension, Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, babies requiring mechanical ventilation during hospital stay and non-vigorous baby at birth are having significant risk of mortality.

Conclusion: MAS constitutes an important contributor to hospital based neonatal mortality. The presently reported mortality figures are much higher than international values, thus warranting the need for improved antenatal services and better ventilator management strategies

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Pranav N Saji