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Meconium aspiration (inhalation)

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS)

Prevention:

Risk factors should be identified as early as possible. If the mother's water broke at home, she should tell the health care provider whether the fluid was clear or stained with a dark substance. Fetal monitoring is started so that any signs of fetal distress can be recognized early. Immediate intervention in the delivery room can sometimes help prevent aspiration.

• Review Date: 8/18/2006
• Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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