Pulmonary aspiration, the inhalation of substances from the oral cavity or upper gastrointestinal tract, can lead to serious complications such as chemical pneumonitis and bacterial pneumonia. This condition is particularly concerning in patients with predisposing factors like altered consciousness, neurological disorders, or advanced age.
Chemical pneumonitis, is characterized by lung inflammation, and may progress to chronic complications such as lung abscesses in cases of recurrent aspiration. While many aspiration events resolve without bacterial infection, certain populations, such as hospitalized or nursing home patients, are at higher risk of developing bacterial pneumonia due to exposure to pathogens.
Diagnosis typically involves clinical presentation (e.g., tachypnea, hypoxia, and purulent sputum) and radiological findings, such as infiltrates in dependent lung segments. Immediate management includes oropharyngeal suctioning, patient positioning, and, in severe cases, intubation and bronchoalveolar lavage. Antibiotics are generally not recommended unless symptoms persist or there is evidence of infection.