Comparision of cord ABG in infants born through meconium-stained amniotic fluid and clear amniotic fluid

Abstract

One of the phenomena that has been especially considered in women's texts is the phenomenon of amniotic fluid impregnation with meconium. Considering that reducing cesarean section is one of the national priorities and maternal health and the study of neonatal arterial blood gas (ABG) is an indicator of neonatal hypoxia during childbirth, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare ABG ranges at birth in infants with meconium and clear leakages. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 72 infants with meconium leakage and 72 neonates with clear leakage born to mothers with a gestational age of more than 37 weeksm who were refered to Al-Zahra or Taleghani hospitals of Tabriz during 2019-2020. Data on birth profile, ABG, neonatal outcomes and 1 and 5 minute Apgar scores were collected for each group of neonates and statistically analyzed. Results: In this study, mean birth age (P=0.498), mean birth weight (P=0.542) and neonatal sex (P=0.133) with meconium leakage were not significantly different from neonates with clear leakage. The mean pH of neonates with meconium leakage was not significantly different from neonates with clear leakage (both 7.3, P=0.987). The mean of PCO2 of neonates with meconium leakage was not significantly different from neonates with clear leakage (42.9 vs. 47.9 mmHg, P=0.052). Mean Base Excess of neonates with meconium leakage was not significantly different from neonates with clear leakage (each around -3, P=0.355). The incidence of NICU hospitalization in neonates with meconium leakage was not significantly different from neonates with clear leakage (P=0.172). Also, no cases of death, meconium aspiration syndrome, acute hypoxia, ischemic hypoxic encephalopathy and seizures and infections were observed in the neonates of the two groups. Mean 1 and 5 minute Apgar scores of neonates with meconium leakage were not significantly different from neonates with clear leakage (P=0.524 and P=0.496, respectively).