Histopathology of Meconium Contamination in the Middle Ear of Neonate / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Perinatal meconium aspiration and prolonged membrane rupture are correlated with a higher incidence of otitis media. Contamination of the ammniotic fluid with meconium presumably increases the concentration of desquamated epithelial cells. Therefore, more of these cells might be expected to be found in the middle ear and mastoid cavities of neonates born through meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF). The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether postmorterm findings of meconium aspiration syndrome might correlate with the amount of amniotic fluid cellular content in the middle ear. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We compared temporal bones of 14 patients born through MSAF with those of 15 patients born through clear amniotic fluid. The volume of contaminant was measured for each patient. RESULTS: Patients with larger volumes of contaminant in the middle ear were born through thick MSAF. Conversely, patients with lesser volumes of contaminant in the middle ear were born through unstained amniotic fluid. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that patients born through thick, MSAF may be at greater risk of sequelae such as otitis media from foreign body inflammatory reaction.