Meconium rarely can gain access to the vascular system of a fetus or neonate from which it can embolize. Several features overlap with amniotic fluid embolization.
Preceding lesions:
(1) meconium peritonitis
(2) meconium pleuritis (either from meconium aspiration or meconium peritonitis)
The meconium may gain access to the lymphatic drainage, from which it enters the systemic circulation.
The neonate may show the sudden onset of:
(1) respiratory failure
(2) systemic circulatory failure/collapse
Histology shows intravascular squamous cells with or without tissue infarcts in
(1) the pulmonary veins
(2) various internal organs (brain, liver, pancreas, kidneys, etc)
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