Meconium-Stained Amniotic Fluid As A Risk Factor For Necrotizing Enterocolitis Among Preterm Very Low Birth Weight Infants:A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective:To evaluate if meconium-stained amniotic fluid(MSAF)is a risk factor of Necrotizing Enterocolitis(NEC)in preterm very low birth weight infants.Material and methods:The retrospective study was conducted at the Neonatal Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between Jan 2010 to Oct 2016.Information of maternal characteristics and neonates who were very low birth weight infants and born prior to 34 week’s gestation were collected and compared between MSAF group and non-MSAF group.Results:In present study,460 medical records of preterm infants with very low birth weight were reviewed.41(8.9%)of them were born with MSAF.A total of 180 infants were finally involved in the study.Demographic characteristics and neonatal complication of MSAF(n=30)and non-MSAF group(n=150)were compared.Higher incidence of NEC(26.7%VS.10%,?~2=4.825,P=0.028)was found in MSAF group comparison to non-MSAF group.In logistic regression analysis,MSAF(OR=3.385,95.0%CI:1.349-8.492,P=0.009)andsepsis(OR=3.538,95.0%CI:1.442-8.679,P=0.006)were independent risk factors of NEC.Conclusions:MSAF might be a risk factor of NEC in very low birth weight infants.MSAF and sepsis contributed to the development of NEC.