Objective assessment of meconium content in amniotic fluid

ABSTRACT

In the first part, a sample set of meconium and amniotic fluid solutions with concentrations of 15 percent, 10 percent, 7.5 percent, 5 percent, 3 percent and 1.5 percent was prepared by mixing fresh meconium with clear amniotic fluid. After centrifugation, meconiumcrit values were measured similar to haematocrit measurement. A graph was constructed from meconium concentration and respective meconiumcrit values. A linear relationship was found. In the second part meconiumcrit readings were measured from meconium-stained amniotic fluid obtained from women in labour. fetal and neonatal morbidity were increased significantly in cases where meconium level reached >10 percent. The cut-off level requiring tracheal intubation was found to be 15 percent. High meconiumcrit levels could alert the obstetrician to the possibility of neonatal morbidity and the need for intensive resuscitative measures.