Meconium aspiration syndrome. Neonatal and follow-up study

One year's experience with MAS in a neonatal intensive-care unit is analyzed with follow-up information. Seventeen patients or 3.7% of all admissions had MAS. Four patients (23.5%) died of acute respiratory failure. Two patients with MAS and persistence of the fetal circulation required cardiac catheterization to exclude cyanotic congenital heart disease. No survivors had persistent chronic lung disease. However, two of three patients with MAS and seizures had significant psychomotor retardation at follow-up examination.