Will An Amnioinfusion Reduce Fetal Distress in Cases of Thick Meconium Amniotic Fluid

Abstract

Objective: To find out if Amnioinfusion can reduce fetal distress in cases of thick meconium amniotic fluid.

Study Design: Randomized Control Trail.

Location and Duration: Department of Pediatrics Medicine Nishtar Hospital Multan from January 2017 to February 2018.

Material and methods: A total of 138 patients were included the study. Patients were divided into two equal groups, cases and controls. Group 1 received amnioinfusion while group II being the control group received standard care. Age, parity, cervical dilatation, interval between detection of meconium and delivery, percentage of neonates developing meconium aspiration syndrome, neonates getting admission in neonatal intensive care units and neonatal death were the variables measured and analyzed. Mean and standard deviation was calculated for continuous variables while frequency and percentage was calculated for categorical variables. Chi square test was applied and p value of less than or equal to 0.05 was considered as significant.

Results: APGAR score was more than 7 in 68.1% of the cases and 44.9% of the controls at 1 minute after birth. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.006). APGAR score was more than 7 at five minutes after birth in 92.8% of the cases and 76.8%of the controls (p=0.009). The incidence of meconium aspiration syndrome, NICU admissions and perinatal deaths was 13%, 17.4% and 4.3% in the group receiving amnioinfusion and 23.2%, 29% and 10.1% in the controls.

Conclusion: The results of the study clearly show that amnioinfusion is certainly very effective in reducing the incidence of fetal distress along with overall better outcomes as compared to the standard care of the meconium stained amniotic fluid.

Keywords: Amnioinfusion, fetal distress, thick meconium, amniotic fluid