Histologic Evidence of Intrapulmonary Bronchopulmonary Anastomotic Pathways in Neonates with Meconium Aspiration Syndrome.

We examined lung histology from 8 infants who died with meconium aspiration syndrome in order to determine the presence of intrapulmonary bronchopulmonary anastomotic pathways. Each infant required mechanical ventilation to treat hypoxemic respiratory distress. Lung histology from each infant shows evidence of prominent bronchopulmonary vascular connections.