Table 6.
Pooled effect estimates associated with meconium aspiration syndrome
| Outcome | Group | # of studies (# of participants) | Effect Estimate (95% CI) | Heterogeneity (I2) | Test for subgroup differences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endotracheal Suctioning versus Oro-(naso)pharyngeal Suctioning | |||||
| All-cause neonatal mortality | Total | 4 (575) | RR 1.24 (0.76, 2.02) | 12% | – |
| Incidence of meconium aspiration syndrome | Total | 4 (575) | RR 1.00 (0.80, 1.25) | 49% | – |
| Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) | Total | 2 (327) | RR 0.86 (0.62, 1.18) | 41% | p = 0.19 |
| Any severity | 1 (152) | RR 1.05 (0.68, 1.63) | – | – | |
| Moderate to severe | 1 (175) | RR 0.68 (0.43, 1.09) | – | – | |
| Culture positive sepsis | Total | 3 (406) | RD 0.01 (−0.04, 0.06) | 0% | – |
| Antibiotics – Comparison 1: Among symptomatic infants | |||||
| Mortality (before discharge) | Total | 2 (186) | RD 0.01 (−0.03, 0.05) | 0% | – |
| Incidence of confirmed sepsis in the first 28 days | Total | 2 (186) | RD 0.01 (−0.04, 0.06) | 0% | – |
| Antibiotics – Comparison 2: Among asymptomatic infants | |||||
| Mortality (before discharge) | Total | 1 (250) | RR 1.07 (0.22, 5.18) | – | – |
| Incidence of meconium aspiration syndrome | Total | 1 (250) | RR 1.17 (0.67, 2.04) | – | – |
| Incidence of confirmed sepsis in the first 28 days | Total | 1 (250) | RD −0.01 (−0.07, 0.04) | – | – |
| Bolus Surfactant versus Control | |||||
| Mortality | Total | 1 (61) | RR 0.32 (0.04, 2.93) | – | – |