Significance of meconium-stained amniotic fluid for birth outcomes

SUMMARY “Significance of meconium-stained amniotic fluid for birth outcomes” Erikas Strupeikis Master thesis Aim: To analyse the relationship between meconium-stained amniotic fluid and birth outcomes whilst considering the nature of the meconium contamination. Objectives: To determine the rate of natural births, vacuum extractions, and caesarean sections in women with clear liquor and meconium-stained amniotic fluid; Evaluate the frequency of hypoxia, asphyxia of new-borns in both groups whilst considering the nature of the meconium as well as the dependency of meconium aspiration syndrome cases with the type of meconium. Materials and methods: the prospective case-control study was carried out in the year of 2015, from October 1 to December 31. Women in labour who matched the selection criteria were assigned to the analysis and control groups. Statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS 17.0 program. Results: The analysis group consisted of 121 females and the control group was made up of 229 females. There was no statistical significance in the difference of birth methods among the two groups. When the meconium in the amniotic fluids is thick, birth ends in C-section at a statistically significant level (p=0.044). In both groups no new-born asphyxia was observed whilst 6 cases of hypoxia had been found. This was found to be more likely for births from thick meconium at a statistically significant level (p=0.020). Meconium aspiration syndrome is more commonly found in the presence of thick meconium than meconium (p=0.047). Conclusions: the frequency of birth methods did not differ in the two groups. In the presence of thick meconium, C-section is used more frequently. Hypoxia occurs more frequently for new-borns who came from meconium-stained amniotic fluids, than the ones who were born from clear liquor. Hypoxia occurs more frequently in the presence of thick meconium. Meconium aspiration syndrome occurs more frequently for new-borns born from thick meconium