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Lung Ultrasound in the Early Diagnosis and Management of the Mild Form of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome: A Case Report

Authors :
Alessandro Perri
Simona Fattore
Giorgia Prontera
Maria Letizia Patti
Annamaria Sbordone
Milena Tana
Vito D’Andrea
Giovanni Vento
Source :
Diagnostics, Vol 13, Iss 4, p 719 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

MAS is a common cause of neonatal respiratory distress in term and post-term neonates. Meconium staining of the amniotic fluid occurs in about 10–13% of normal pregnancies, and about 4% of these infants develop respiratory distress. In the past, MAS was diagnosed mainly on the basis of history, clinical symptoms, and chest radiography. Several authors have addressed the ultrasonographic assessment of the most common respiratory patterns in neonates. In particular, MAS is characterised by a heterogeneous alveolointerstitial syndrome, subpleural abnormalities with multiple lung consolidations, characterised by a hepatisation aspect. We present six cases of infants with a clinical history of meconium-stained fluid who presented with respiratory distress at birth. Lung ultrasound allowed the diagnosis of MAS in all the studied cases, despite the mild clinical picture. All children had the same ultrasound pattern with diffuse and coalescing B-lines, pleural line anomalies, air bronchograms, and subpleural consolidations with irregular shapes. These patterns were distributed in different areas of the lungs. These signs are specific enough to distinguish between MAS and other causes of neonatal respiratory distress, allowing the clinician to optimise therapeutic management.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20754418
Volume :
13
Issue :
4
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Diagnostics
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.152ce4f01ddf481fa5e4804c6430d88c
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13040719