Contents

Disclaimer

Oxford University Press makes no representation, express or implied, that the drug dosages in this book are correct. Readers must therefore always check the product information and clinical procedures with the most up to date published product information and data sheets provided by the manufacturers and the most recent codes of conduct and safety regulations. The authors and the publishers do not accept responsibility or legal liability for any errors in the text or for the misuse or misapplication of material in this work. Except where otherwise stated, drug dosages and recommendations are for the non-pregnant adult who is not breastfeeding.

Show Summary Details
Page of

Aspiration and inhalation 

Aspiration and inhalation
Page of

PRINTED FROM OXFORD MEDICINE ONLINE (www.oxfordmedicine.com). © Oxford University Press, 2021. All Rights Reserved. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single chapter of a title in Oxford Medicine Online for personal use (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).

date: 28 July 2021

This chapter focuses on the pathophysiology, clinical features, management and prevention of aspiration pneumonitis, aspiration pneumonia, and airway obstruction. Aspiration is defined as the inhalation of oropharyngeal or gastric contents into the larynx and lower respiratory tract. Pulmonary syndromes caused by aspiration are different, depending on the amount and nature of the aspirated material, the frequency of aspiration and the host’s response. This results in a chemical burn of tracheobronchial tree and pulmonary parenchyma. The caustic effects of the low pH of the aspirate cause an intense inflammatory reaction. As a consequence, severe hypoxaemia and infiltrates on chest radiograph occur. If colonized oropharyngeal material enters the lungs, aspiration pneumonia develops and antibiotics are needed. Even if not toxic per se, large volumes of fluids may cause suffocation by mechanical obstruction. Prevention of aspiration is of vital importance and the patient at risk must be identified. The major therapeutic approach is to correct hypoxia, support pulmonary function, and prevent pneumonia development.

Access to the complete content on Oxford Medicine Online requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts for each book and chapter without a subscription.

Please subscribe or login to access full text content.

If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code.

For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.