Effectiveness of Steroid Therapy in Newborns with Meconium Aspiration Syndrome at NICU, Gangaram Hospital, Lahore

Abstract

Objective: Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is one of the serious and life-threatening disorders in newborn infants and is still one of the most challenged neonatal diseases. This study was conducted in order to determine the efficacy of steroids use in the management of this syndrome. Study Design: This was a randomized controlled study Period and Place of study: Six month period in the neonatal unit of the Gangaram hospital, Lahore. Materials and Methods: We included sixty eight (68) babies with MAS which were then distributed randomly into two groups i.e. Group A (n = 34), patients in this group served as controls and Group B (n = 34), patients who were treated with steroids. Injectable decadron wasadministered at 0.2mg per kg per day in two divided doses (i.e. every 12 hours). Infants in present trial were evaluated on the basis of duration of stay at hospital, mortality rate and were also assessed for other morbidities and infections. Results: We observed a statistically significant difference in the duration of stay between the two groups. However, the use of steroids was not correlated with mortality rate since it was same in two groups. Conclusion: The conclusion of our study is that steroids revealed shorter duration of stay and less morbidity I newborns with MAS affect the mechanistic way of MAS and thus favorably affect the outcome.