Neonatal aspiration: Not just meconium

Article type: Research Article

Authors: De Cunto, A. | Paviotti, G. | Demarini, S.

Affiliations: Department of Neonatology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health – IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste, Italy

Note: [] Corresponding author: Dr. Angela De Cunto, Institute for Maternal and Child Health – IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste, Italy, Via dell'Istria 65/1, 34137 Trieste, Italy. Tel.: +39 040 3785226; Fax: +39 040 3785540; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Aspiration of uncontaminated amniotic fluid as a cause of neonatal respiratory distress is scarcely documented. A term neonate who presented with early onset respiratory distress with a radiographic appearance of an aspiration syndrome is therefore reported. Differential diagnosis and implication of this diagnosis in the management of neonatal respiratory distress are discussed. This case highlights amniotic fluid aspiration as a possible cause of severe respiratory distress even in the absence of meconium stained fluid.

Keywords: Amniotic fluid aspiration, aspiration syndrome, neonatal respiratory distress

DOI: 10.3233/NPM-1372613

Journal: Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 355-357, 2013