ABSTRACT
Fetal aspiration of meconium in amniotic fluid during fetal distress by newborn infants
can induce the meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), a form of neonatal respiratory
distress. Should this event occur, admission to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and
vigorous airway management and monitoring are required. We present a term gestation
resulting in MAS complicated by a massive intravascular thrombosis. Despite airway
management considered appropriate, the infant developed respiratory distress a few
hours after birth and died 5 days later. Postmortem examination showed a diffuse alveolar
damage of the lungs with alveoli filled with meconium and amniotic epithelial cells
as well as disseminated thrombi in the pulmonary vascular tree, portal system, suprahepatic
veins, and peripheral arterial vascular tree.
Keywords
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome - intravascular thrombosis