Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS)

To the Editor.— In the article "Intratracheal Suctioning, Systemic Infection, and the Meconium Aspiration Syndrome," Wiswell and Henley review their experience with meconium-stained babies from 1985 to 1989. Dr Wiswell compares two groups of neonates, those intubated and those not intubated. The rationale for not intubating neonates included (1) the lack of meconium in the hypopharynx, (2) the apparent vigor of the child, and (3) thin-consistency meconium. The literature agrees that the majority of meconium-stained neonates fall into such a category; however, Dr Wiswell finds only 19% of neonates in this category.