Inhaled nitric oxide treatment inhibits neuronal injury after meconium aspiration in piglets.

Background: Meconium aspiration-induced hypertensive lung injury is frequently associated with neuronal damage. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is widely used in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension, but its effects on the brain are poorly known.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of iNO treatment on the neuronal tissue after meconium aspiration.

Meconium aspiration induces neuronal injury in piglets.

Aim: Meconium aspiration-induced hypertensive lung injury, especially when connected with perinatal asphyxia, has been associated with brain damage. We aimed to determine the neuronal injury induced by pulmonary meconium contamination alone and with concurrent asphyxia.

Methods: 36 anaesthetized and ventilated newborn piglets were haemodynamically monitored for 6 h.

Meconium aspiration induces oxidative injury in the hippocampus of newborn piglets.

Background: Meconium aspiration-induced hypertensive lung injury has been associated with neuronal damage in the newborn, but the mechanisms of the injury are poorly known.

Aims: The aim of the study was to determine the contribution of oxidative stress to the brain damage after pulmonary meconium contamination.

Study Design: Sixteen anesthetized and ventilated newborn piglets were studied for 6 h.

Intravenous immunoglobulin g attenuates pulmonary hypertension but induces local neutrophil influx in meconium aspiration in piglets.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension and inflammation are well-identified pathogenetic features in meconium aspiration syndrome of newborns, but current approaches to their treatment or prevention are still often unsatisfactory.

Objectives: To investigate the possible protective effects of human intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) on the hypertensive and inflammatory lung injury in severe neonatal meconium aspiration.

Methods: Eleven newborn (10-12 days old) ventilated and catheterized piglets that received an intratracheal bolus (3 ml/kg) of a 65-mg/ml mixture of human meconium were studied for 6 h.

Meconium induces only localized inflammatory lung injury in piglets.

Neonatal meconium aspiration often produces severe respiratory distress due to an inflammatory pulmonary injury, but the extension of this damaging reaction to the noncontaminated lung regions is still uncertain. To investigate the presence of generalized pulmonary inflammatory response, 31 anesthetized and ventilated neonatal piglets (1-3 d) were studied. Meconium (n = 16) or saline (n = 15) was instilled unilaterally into the right lung, and analysis of the lung tissue or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from both lungs was performed after 12 h.