PERINATAL OUTCOME OF MECONIUM STAINED LIQUOR IN TERM, PRE-TERM & POST-TERM PREGNANCY

Abstract

Introduction: Meconium aspiration is commonly dened as the presence of meconium below the vocal cords. Meconium aspiration is more common if the meconium is thick rather than thin. This may be a reection of the fact that oligohydramnios (and therefore thick undiluted meconium) is more likely to lead to fetal hypoxia due to cord compression and consequently increased fetal breathing. Aim: To determine the incidence of cases having meconium stained liquor during labour. To classify the total no. of cases with meconium stained liquor in labour on the basis of gestational duration (term, pre-term and post-term), as well as mode of delivery. To correlate the perinatal outcome with incidence of meconium staining of liquor during labour. To reduce perinatal mortality & morbidity. Materials And Methods: The present study was conducted at Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital, during the period of December 2018 to November 2020. During the study period, total number of deliveries was 3500, the number of cases selected for the study were 1680. Intrapartum meconium stained liquor was present in 165 cases (11.01%). Cases with clear liquor in the intrapartum period 1495 cases (88.99%) were taken as controls. Result: No signicant correlation was noted between maternal age and meconium staining of liquor. The incidence of staining was higher i.e. 17.1% in higher gestational age of foetus i.e. 41-42 weeks. Our study also yielded results of rising incidence of low –birth weight babies(less than 2.5kg) in meconium stained liquor cases. Instrumental vaginal deliveries and caesarean sections were found to be more prevalent in these cases. Mean Apgar Scores were signicantly lower in cases complicated with thick stained liquor than in thin stained liquor or clear liquor. Conclusion: It can be said that our study has revealed some results that further establishes some well-known facts about meconium stained liquor. Meconium stained liquor is a very common complication during labour and its incidence is 11.01% as per this study. Incidence of instrumental vaginal delivery and caesarean section is signicantly increased when liquor is meconium stained during labour.