Meconium and tracheal aspiration.

In Reply.— Doctors Bull et al, Denk, and Reynolds all bring out an important aspect of our investigation...meconium-stained newborns whose tracheae were not intubated and suctioned were significantly more likely subsequently to develop the meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). I disagree with Dr Reynolds9 contention that intratracheal suctioning of newborns is uniformly unnecessary among neonates born through meconium. Although babies born through thin meconium are less likely to develop MAS, as many as 38% to 41%1,2 of neonates with the disorder are born through thin-consistency fluid.