Outcome of Neonates with Meconium Aspiration Syndrome on High Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation in NICU of Tertiary Care Centre

ABSTRACT

Background: Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS) is a complex respiratory disease of the term and near-term neonate. Inhalation of meconium causes airway obstruction, atelectasis, epithelial injury, surfactant inhibition and pulmonary hypertension, the chief clinical manifestations of which are hypoxemia and poor lung compliance. Supplemental oxygen is the mainstay of therapy of MAS, with around one-third of infants requiring mechanical ventilation. For those ventilated, high ventilator pressures, as well as relatively long inspiratory time and slow ventilatory rate, may be necessary to achieve adequate oxygenation. High frequency ventilation may offer a benefit in infants with refractory hypoxemia and/or gas trapping. High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is a lung-protective strategy that can be utilized in the full spectrum of patient populations ranging from neonatal to adults with acute lung injury. HFOV uses low tidal volumes and constant mean airway pressures in conjunction with high respiratory rates to provide beneficial effects on oxygenation and ventilation, while eliminating the traumatic “inflate–deflate” cycle imposed by CV. Few studies have shown that, HFOV can effectively improve lung ventilation and oxygenation function, shorten ventilator treatment time and reduce the incidence of air leakage for neonatal MAS, making it a safe and effective treatment method. Objective:To study the Outcome of Neonates with Meconium Aspiration Syndrome on High Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (HFVO).Material & Methods:It is a Prospective Observational Study of 10 neonates >34 weeks of gestation and birth weight >1500gm with meconium-stained liquor with respiratory distress requiring mechanical ventilation. Study was conducted over a period of 10months from August 2021 to May 2022. These neonates requiring mechanical ventilation were electively first hand put on SensorMedics 3100A High Frequency Oscillatory Ventilator after taking informed written consent from parents and given appropriate Intensive care. Data was analyzed at the end of the study duration and looked for outcome in the form of successful weaning from mechanical ventilation and discharge from NICU, and Death.Results:8 out of 10 (80%) neonates with MAS that were ventilated via HFOV were successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation and discharged, while death was reported in 2 out of 10 (20%) of the neonates included in the study.Conclusion:80% of neonates with MAS that were provided mechanical ventilation in the form of HFOV were effectively weaned off from mechanical ventilation, whereas 20% neonates died. This shows clinical effectiveness of HFOV in MAS making it a safe and effective treatment modality in neonates with MAS.