Intrauterine meconium aspiration syndrome

A case of presumptive intrauterine meconium aspiration is reported in which the diagnosis was made on the basis of an unexplained intrauterine fetal tachycardia and the presence of severely meconium-stained amniotic fluid. The possible pathophysiology of intrauterine meconium aspiration is discussed with special attention to animal experimentation. The importance of an early diagnosis of this condition is stressed. The clinical management of such cases may change once the antenatal diagnosis of intrauterine meconium aspiration can be made with more certainty. In addition, the legal implications of a confirmed diagnosis of intrauterine meconium aspiration are discussed as meconium aspiration is considered presently to represent a largely preventable neonatal event.