Aspiration pneumonia

Aspiration pneumonia is an inflammation caused by aspiration of gastric content after alcoholic intoxication, in unconsciousness, during some therapeutic procedures, for example tracheostomy, gastric lavage, intubation, etc. Other cause of aspiration of gastric content could be gastroesophageal reflux (Mendelson syndrome). Highly susceptible populations include pre-term newborns, child with cleft palate, neurologic patients and bedridden elderly patients.

It is possible to aspirate:

Je možné aspirovat:


 * chemical and other substances (gastric content, lipids)
 * internal material (fluids, solid parts)
 * infectious material from oropharynx (gram-negative bacteria)

If an aspiration of gastric content occurs, the inflammation is caused by the acidity of gastric juice, bacterial activity and irritative effect of food.

In this cases, infectious pneumonia is established which is commonly located in the lower love of the right lung. The volume and the pH of aspirate determinates how much the damage will be serious. A pH < 2,5. indicates poor prognosis.

Clinical presentation
Aspiration pneumonia manifests itself by sudden onset of dyspnea with cyanosis or with high temperature. Sometimes it can be accompanied by productive or irritative coughs. In tough cases, the ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome), absces, fistulas or empyema could be present. . The most common pathogens are Staphylococcus aureus and Haemophilus influenzae.

An x-ray examination
On the X-ray image we can see difuse homogenic infiltration often with clearance. In ARDS the image will resemble pulmonary edema.

Diferencial diagnosis

 * pulmonary edema,
 * embolisation
 * bacterial pneumonia.

Treatment

 * oxygenotherapy
 * securing the vital functions – intubation with mechanical ventilation, stabilization of hemodynamics
 * broad-spectrum antibiotics for prophylaxis
 * mucous suctioning using bronchoscopy

The improvement of patient´s state is expected within 24 hours.

Foreign body aspiration
The presentation of foreign body aspiration depends on it´s size, shape, structure etc.


 * big body→ asphyxiation
 * small body→ lung inflammation after the stenosis, they can raise suspicion for malignant process

Therapy: removing the foreign body by bronchoscopy, ATB administration

Water aspiration
The progression of pneumonia depends of the water quality which was inhaled


 * freshwater - hypoosmolar, leads to hypervolemia → hemodilution + hemolysis → low hematocrit level → CNS and heart hypoxemia
 * seawater – hyperosmolar, leads to pulmonary embolism

Oil aspiration
I. e. lipoid pneumonia, it can develop during aspiration of mineral, herbal or animal oils (laxatives, nose drops ). There is a risk of localized pulmonary fibrosis, it imitates cancer on X-Ray image. Besides standart therapy corticoids can be administered.

Fire breather's pneumonia
It develops during involuntary aspiration of liquid paraffin in fire breathers. The findings resemble lipoid pneumonia.

Related articles

 * Pneumonie
 * Aspirace
 * Aspirace cizího tělesa

Literature

 * KLENER, Pavel, et al. Vnitřní lékařství. 4. vydání. Praha : Galén: Karolinum, 2011. 1174 s.  ISBN 978-80-7262-705-9.


 * ČEŠKA, Richard, et al. Interna. 1. vydání. Praha : Triton, 2010. 855 s.  ISBN 978-80-7387-423-0.


 * ŠTORK, Alois. Lékařské repetitorium. 4. vydání. Praha : Avicenum, 1982.