Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pulmonary consequences of aspiration

  • Published:
Dysphagia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aspiration can lead to serious pulmonary disease and occasionally death. Substances aspirated commonly include bacteria or gastric contents or both, but may be as unusual as diesel oil or a variety of foreign bodies. Pulmonary symptoms range from a subtle cough, wheezing, or hoarseness to severe dyspnea or asphyxiation. We discuss the mechanism of pulmonary disease caused by aspiration as well as the appropriate treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bryan AC: Effect of altered states on protective mechanisms.Am Rev Respir Dis 131:563–564, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  2. Logemann JA: Treatment of aspiration related to dysphagia: an overview.Dysphagia 1:34–38, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bartlett JG, Gorbach SL, Finegold SM: The bacteriology of aspiration pneumonia.Am J Med 56:202–207, 1974

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Mendelson CL: The aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs during obstetric anesthesia.Am J Obstet Gynecol 52:191–204, 1946

    Google Scholar 

  5. McCormick PW, Hay RG, Griffin RW: Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents in obstetric patients.Lancet 1:1127–1130, 1966

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ribaudo CA, Grace WJ: Pulmonary aspiration.Am J Med 50:510–519, 1971

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Franklin MA, Skoryna SC: Studies on natural gastric flora. Bacterial flora of fasting human subjects.Can Med Assoc J 95:1349–1355, 1966

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Driks MR et al.: Nosocomial pneumonia in intubed patients given sucralfate as compared with antacids or histamine type 2 blockers: the role of gastric colonization.N Engl J Med 317:1376–1382, 1987

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Pellegrini CA, DeMeester TR, Johnson LF, Skinner DB: Gastroesophageal reflux and pulmonary aspiration: incidence, functional abnormality, and results of surgical therapy.Surgery 86:110–118, 1979

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Larrain A, Lira E, Otero M, Pope CE: Posterior laryngitis — a useful marker of esophageal reflux (abstract).Gastroenterology 80:1204, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  11. Larrain A, Carrasco J, Galleguillos J, Pope CE: Reflux treatment improves lung function in patients with intrinsic asthma (abstract).Gastroenterology 80:1204, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  12. Boyle JT, Tuchman DN, Altschuler SM, Nixon TE, Pack AI, Cohen S: Mechanism for the association of gastroesophageal reflux and bronchospasm.Am Rev Respir Dis 131:516–520, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kjellen G, Tibbling I, Wranne B: Effect of conservative treatment of oesophageal dysfunction on bronchial asthma.Eur J Respir Dis 62:190–197, 1981

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Mays EE: Intrinsic asthma in adults. Association with gastroesophageal reflux.JAMA 236:2626–2628, 1976

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe Street, 21205, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Peter B. Terry M.D. & Steven D. Fuller Ph.D., D.O.

Authors
  1. Peter B. Terry M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Steven D. Fuller Ph.D., D.O.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Terry, P.B., Fuller, S.D. Pulmonary consequences of aspiration. Dysphagia 3, 179–183 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02407220

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02407220

Key words

Search

Navigation