OBJECTIVES: to review the literature on meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) focusing on clinical aspects, pathophysiology, and treatment with emphasis on surfactant and bronchoalveolar lavage. METHODS: review including articles from MEDLINE, SCIELO and abstracts published in the national and international literature, from 1988 to 2004 using the keywords meconium aspiration syndrome, surfactant and bronchoalveolar lavage. Randomized and quasi-randomized trials, case control studies, meta-analyses and recently published reviews were selected. Other articles were included for their valuable contribution to the subject. RESULTS: the discovery of new pathophysiological mechanisms ensued new therapeutic options availability. MAS management is initiated with airway aspiration in the delivery room, followed by the ventilatory management required to maintain optimal arterial oxygenation, as well as complications treatment. Considering evidences showing that meconium mechanical airway obstruction and its inhibitory effect on the surfactant system, the use of surfactant replacement and bronchoalveolar lavage with surfactant suspension are under study. CONCLUSIONS: experimental studies and studies focused on newborn using different surfactant suspensions have demonstrated controversial results. Therefore, it is very important to identify new ventilatory strategies and evaluate whether there are advantages in using surfactant and bronchoalveolar lavage with surfactant suspension in MAS.
Meconium aspiration syndrome; Pulmonary surfactants; Bronchoalveolar lavage