Abstract
An experimental model for the study of meconium aspiration has been developed, consisting of injection of 4 ml of a 25% wt/vol suspension of sterile meconium into the trachea of adult rabbits. All lived for 24 hours. The effects of meconium aspiration alone, and aspiration followed by tracheal suction with and without saline lavage were compared to controls who underwent saline lavage and suction, but with no meconium instillation. The groups were compared by measurements of sequential arterial pO2, pH and pCO2, and, after sacrifice at 24 hr., by in situ lung pressure volume curves, total lung volumes, lung wt/body wt ratios and lung anatomy.
Animals given intratracheal meconium had lower pO2 values and higher lung wt/body wt ratios than did control animals. No differences in any measurement were found between the groups who had undergone meconium instillation, regardless of the therapeutic approach tested.
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Virnig, N., Geller, G., Severson, M. et al. AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL FOR EVALUATION OF TREATMENT OF MECONIUM ASPIRATION. Pediatr Res 8, 452 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00670
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00670
