The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is the comparison of endotracheal intubation and suctioning to immediate resuscitation without intubation of non-vigorous infants > 34 weeks’ gestation delivered through meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF). Randomized, non-randomized clinical trials and observational studies were included. Data sources were PubMed/Medline and Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, from 2012 to 2021. Inclusion criteria were non-vigorous infants born through MSAF with gestational age > 34 weeks and sample size ≥ 5. We calculated overall relative risks (RR) and mean differences (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) to determine the impact of endotracheal suction (ETS) in non-vigorous infants born through MSAF. The outcomes presented are the incidence of neonatal mortality, meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), transient tachypnea, need for positive pressure ventilation, respiratory support, persistent pulmonary hypertension treatment, neonatal infection, ischemic encephalopathy, admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the duration of hospitalization between ETS and non-ETS group. Six studies with a total sample of 1026 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Statistically non-significant difference was observed in RR between two groups with regards to mortality (1.22, 95% CI 0.73−2.04), occurrence of MAS (1.08, 95% CI 0.76−1.53) and other outcomes, and MD in hospitalization duration. There is no sufficient evidence to suggest initiating endotracheal suction soon after birth in non-vigorous meconium-stained infants as routine.
Keywords: endotracheal intubation; endotracheal suction; meconium-stained amniotic fluid; meconium-stained infant; non-vigorous infant.