Roentgenographic Analysis of Meconium Aspiration of the Newborn

Abstract

Eighty infants were delivered through meconium-stained amniotic fluid. In 40% of the 75 infants whose chest roentgenograms were obtained in the first hour of life, focal or generalized areas of diminished aeration were seen. Air-trapping was not observed, but in 9.3% of the infants pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum was present or developed later. Pleural effusion was evident at the costophrenic sulci in 27% of those infants in whom consolidation was manifested.