Is meconium aspiration dangerous, and what kind of damage can it cause?

If the meconium gets into the airways leading to the lungs, it causes a blockage of the passageways. This stops or impedes the flow of air into and out of portions of the lungs. This can lead to low oxygen levels or a buildup of carbon dioxide.

If significant, this disruption in the functioning of the lungs can lead to a continued high blood pressure in the blood vessels leading to the lungs. When this occurs, there is further inability of the lungs to get oxygen into the bloodstream and to remove carbon dioxide due to blood bypassing the lungs.

Another common complication of meconium aspiration is the development of a hole in the lung(s). This is called a pneumothorax. Air escapes from the lung into the chest cavity and is trapped between the chest wall and lung. As the air builds up, it compresses the lung and again disrupts normal lung function.