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Respiratory Medicine 2021Aspiration pneumonia (AP) is a sub-type of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) still poorly recognized especially in the absence of an aspiration event. A further... (Review)
Review
Aspiration pneumonia (AP) is a sub-type of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) still poorly recognized especially in the absence of an aspiration event. A further difficulty is the differentiation between AP and aspiration pneumonitis. From a clinical perspective, AP is becoming increasingly relevant as a potential cause of severe and life-threatening respiratory infection among frail and very old patients, particularly among those with CAP requiring inpatient care. Moreover, AP is frequently underdiagnosed and a clear-cut definition of this pathological entity is lacking. There are different factors that increase the risk for aspiration, but other common factors influencing oral colonization such as malnutrition, smoking, poor oral hygiene or dry mouth, are also important in the pathogenesis of AP and should be considered. While there is no doubt in the diagnosis of AP in cases of a recent witnessed aspiration of oropharyngeal or gastric content, we here proposed a definition of AP that also includes silent unobserved aspirations. For this reason, the presence of one or more risk factors of oropharyngeal aspiration is required together with one or more risk factors for oral bacterial colonization. This proposed definition based on expert opinion not only unifies the diagnostic criteria of AP, but also provides the possibility to devise easily applicable strategies to prevent oral colonization.
Topics: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Community-Acquired Infections; Female; Humans; Male; Malnutrition; Mouth; Oral Hygiene Index; Pneumonia, Aspiration; Respiratory Aspiration; Risk Factors; Smoking
PubMed: 34087609
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2021.106485 -
Anesthesiology Aug 2021Perioperative pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents has been associated with severe morbidity and death. The primary aim of this study was to identify outcomes and...
BACKGROUND
Perioperative pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents has been associated with severe morbidity and death. The primary aim of this study was to identify outcomes and patient and process of care risk factors associated with gastric aspiration claims in the Anesthesia Closed Claims Project. The secondary aim was to assess these claims for appropriateness of care. The hypothesis was that these data could suggest opportunities to reduce either the risk or severity of perioperative pulmonary aspiration.
METHODS
Inclusion criteria were anesthesia malpractice claims in the American Society of Anesthesiologists Closed Claims Project that were associated with surgical, procedural, or obstetric anesthesia care with the year of the aspiration event 2000 to 2014. Claims involving pulmonary aspiration were identified and assessed for patient and process factors that may have contributed to the aspiration event and outcome. The standard of care was assessed for each claim.
RESULTS
Aspiration of gastric contents accounted for 115 of the 2,496 (5%) claims in the American Society of Anesthesiologists Closed Claims Project that met inclusion criteria. Death directly related to pulmonary aspiration occurred in 66 of the 115 (57%) aspiration claims. Another 16 of the 115 (14%) claims documented permanent severe injury. Seventy of the 115 (61%) patients who aspirated had either gastrointestinal obstruction or another acute intraabdominal process. Anesthetic management was judged to be substandard in 62 of the 115 (59%) claims.
CONCLUSIONS
Death and permanent severe injury were common outcomes of perioperative pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents in this series of closed anesthesia malpractice claims. The majority of the patients who aspirated had either gastrointestinal obstruction or acute intraabdominal processes. Anesthesia care was frequently judged to be substandard. These findings suggest that clinical practice modifications to preoperative assessment and anesthetic management of patients at risk for pulmonary aspiration may lead to improvement of their perioperative outcomes.
Topics: Anesthesiology; Databases, Factual; Female; Gastrointestinal Contents; Humans; Insurance Claim Review; Male; Middle Aged; Respiratory Aspiration
PubMed: 34019629
DOI: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000003831 -
Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia =... Apr 2018This narrative review summarizes the current knowledge on point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) of gastric contents in order to inform an assessment of aspiration risk and... (Review)
Review
This narrative review summarizes the current knowledge on point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) of gastric contents in order to inform an assessment of aspiration risk and guide anesthetic management at the bedside. An I-AIM framework (Indication, Acquisition, Interpretation, and Medical decision-making) is used to summarize and organize the content areas. This narrative review spans the breadth of the literature on pediatric and adult subjects as well as on special patient populations such as obstetric and severely obese individuals. Areas that need further investigation include the diagnostic accuracy of gastric POCUS from a Bayesian perspective and the impact of POCUS on patient outcomes, healthcare economics, and educational curricula.
Topics: Clinical Decision-Making; Gastrointestinal Contents; Humans; Point-of-Care Systems; Respiratory Aspiration; Risk Assessment; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 29230709
DOI: 10.1007/s12630-017-1031-9 -
Anesthesiology Mar 2017
Practice Guidelines for Preoperative Fasting and the Use of Pharmacologic Agents to Reduce the Risk of Pulmonary Aspiration: Application to Healthy Patients Undergoing Elective Procedures: An Updated Report by the American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Preoperative Fasting and the Use...
Topics: Advisory Committees; Anesthesiologists; Antiemetics; Elective Surgical Procedures; Fasting; Humans; Preoperative Care; Reference Values; Respiratory Aspiration; Risk; Societies, Medical; United States
PubMed: 28045707
DOI: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000001452 -
Chest Jan 2021Aspiration community-acquired pneumonia (ACAP) and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in patients with aspiration risk factors (AspRFs) are infections associated with...
BACKGROUND
Aspiration community-acquired pneumonia (ACAP) and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in patients with aspiration risk factors (AspRFs) are infections associated with anaerobes, but limited evidence suggests their pathogenic role.
RESEARCH QUESTION
What are the aspiration risk factors, microbiology patterns, and empiric anti-anaerobic use in patients hospitalized with CAP?
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS
This is a secondary analysis of GLIMP, an international, multicenter, point-prevalence study of adults hospitalized with CAP. Patients were stratified into three groups: (1) ACAP, (2) CAP/AspRF+ (CAP with AspRF), and (3) CAP/AspRF- (CAP without AspRF). Data on demographics, comorbidities, microbiological results, and anti-anaerobic antibiotics were analyzed in all groups. Patients were further stratified in severe and nonsevere CAP groups.
RESULTS
We enrolled 2,606 patients with CAP, of which 193 (7.4%) had ACAP. Risk factors independently associated with ACAP were male, bedridden, underweight, a nursing home resident, and having a history of stroke, dementia, mental illness, and enteral tube feeding. Among non-ACAP patients, 1,709 (70.8%) had CAP/AspRF+ and 704 (29.2%) had CAP/AspRF-. Microbiology patterns including anaerobes were similar between CAP/AspRF-, CAP/AspRF+ and ACAP (0.0% vs 1.03% vs 1.64%). Patients with severe ACAP had higher rates of total gram-negative bacteria (64.3% vs 44.3% vs 33.3%, P = .021) and lower rates of total gram-positive bacteria (7.1% vs 38.1% vs 50.0%, P < .001) when compared with patients with severe CAP/AspRF+ and severe CAP/AspRF-, respectively. Most patients (>50% in all groups) independent of AspRFs or ACAP received specific or broad-spectrum anti-anaerobic coverage antibiotics.
INTERPRETATION
Hospitalized patients with ACAP or CAP/AspRF+ had similar anaerobic flora compared with patients without aspiration risk factors. Gram-negative bacteria were more prevalent in patients with severe ACAP. Despite having similar microbiological flora between groups, a large proportion of CAP patients received anti-anaerobic antibiotic coverage.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cohort Studies; Community-Acquired Infections; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Respiratory Aspiration; Risk Factors
PubMed: 32687909
DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2020.06.079 -
International Journal of Language &... Sep 2018The modifications of fluid viscosity and/or volume are common strategies in dysphagia management, with increased viscosity or reduced volume intended to reduce... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
The modifications of fluid viscosity and/or volume are common strategies in dysphagia management, with increased viscosity or reduced volume intended to reduce aspiration. Little attention has been given to whether cough response to aspiration varies across different viscosities and volumes.
AIMS
This prospective observational study investigated aspiration prevalence and cough response to aspiration in thin and thick fluids of two different volumes in patients referred for flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) in an acute hospital setting.
METHODS & PROCEDURES
Consecutive inpatients (N = 180) referred for FEES were recruited: stroke 51 (28%); other neurological condition (traumatic brain injury, progressive neurological) 33 (18%); cardiovascular critical care 51 (28%); respiratory illness/condition 23 (13%); spinal injury 9 (5%); and other 13 (7%). A standardized protocol was completed on 268 FEES (180 first FEES, 88 repeat FEES). Penetration-aspiration scale (PAS) scores were obtained for thin and mildly thick fluids at two volumes: 5 ml teaspoon and 50 ml continuous drinking.
OUTCOMES & RESULTS
The incidence of aspiration (PAS > 5) was 32% for thin fluids and 18% for thick fluids. There was a significant association between cough response to aspiration and viscosity (p < .001) and volume (p < .001). There was a higher prevalence of silent aspiration in thick fluids than thin fluids. Some patients demonstrated variable cough responsiveness to aspiration across different viscosities and volumes. With 5 ml volumes, 20 patients coughed when they aspirated thin fluids but silently aspirated thick fluids. In comparison, discrepancies in the 50 ml volume were fewer, with three patients coughing when they aspirated thin fluids but silently aspirating thick fluids.
CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS
Cough response to aspiration differs across bolus volumes and viscosities. The finding of inconsistent cough response to aspiration in some patients strongly encourages the use of instrumental assessment to guide decisions regarding diet modifications.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cough; Deglutition; Deglutition Disorders; Female; Humans; Inpatients; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Respiratory Aspiration; Viscosity; Young Adult
PubMed: 29845700
DOI: 10.1111/1460-6984.12401 -
Chest Jul 2016Hospitalizations for aspiration pneumonia have doubled among older adults. Using a bedside water swallow test (WST) to screen for swallowing-related aspiration can be... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Hospitalizations for aspiration pneumonia have doubled among older adults. Using a bedside water swallow test (WST) to screen for swallowing-related aspiration can be efficient and cost-effective for preventing additional comorbidities and mortality. We evaluated screening accuracy of bedside WSTs used to identify patients at risk for dysphagia-associated aspiration.
METHODS
Sixteen online databases, Google Scholar, and known content experts through May 2015 were searched. Only prospective studies with patients ≥ 18 years of age given WST screenings validated against nasoendoscopy or videofluoroscopy were included. Data extraction used dual masked extraction and quality assessment following Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines.
RESULTS
Airway response (eg, coughing/choking) with or without voice changes (eg, wet/gurgly voice quality) was used to identify aspiration during three different bedside WSTs. Pooled estimates for single sip volumes (1-5 mL) were 71% sensitive (95% CI, 63%-78%) and 90% specific (95% CI, 86%-93%). Consecutive sips of 90 to 100 mL trials were 91% sensitive (95% CI, 89%-93%) and 53% specific (95% CI, 51%-55%). Trials of progressively increasing volumes of water were 86% sensitive (95% CI, 76%-93%) and 65% specific (95% CI, 57%-73%). Airway response with voice change improved overall accuracy in identifying aspiration.
CONCLUSIONS
Currently used bedside WSTs offer sufficient, although not ideal, utility in screening for aspiration. Consecutive sips with large volumes in patients who did not present with overt airway responses or voice changes appropriately ruled out risk of aspiration. Small volumes with single sips appropriately ruled in aspiration when clinical signs were present. Combining these bedside approaches may offer improved screening accuracy, but further research is warranted.
Topics: Adult; Deglutition Disorders; Endoscopy; Humans; Mass Screening; Photofluorography; Pneumonia, Aspiration; Point-of-Care Testing; Respiratory Aspiration; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 27102184
DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2016.03.059 -
Chest Mar 2015Aspiration of foreign matter into the airways and lungs can cause a wide spectrum of pulmonary disorders with various presentations. The type of syndrome resulting from...
Aspiration of foreign matter into the airways and lungs can cause a wide spectrum of pulmonary disorders with various presentations. The type of syndrome resulting from aspiration depends on the quantity and nature of the aspirated material, the chronicity, and the host responses. Aspiration is most likely to occur in subjects with a decreased level of consciousness, compromised airway defense mechanisms, dysphagia, gastroesophageal reflux, and recurrent vomiting. These aspiration-related syndromes can be categorized into airway disorders, including vocal cord dysfunction, large airway obstruction with a foreign body, bronchiectasis, bronchoconstriction, and diffuse aspiration bronchiolitis, or parenchymal disorders, including aspiration pneumonitis, aspiration pneumonia, and exogenous lipoid pneumonia. In idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, aspiration has been implicated in disease progression and acute exacerbation. Aspiration may increase the risk of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in patients who have undergone a lung transplant. Accumulating evidence suggests that a causative role for aspiration is often unsuspected in patients presenting with aspiration-related pulmonary diseases; thus, many cases go undiagnosed. Herein, we discuss the broadening spectrum of these pulmonary syndromes with a focus on presenting features and diagnostic aspects.
Topics: Bronchiolitis Obliterans; Humans; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; Lung Diseases; Pneumonia, Aspiration; Respiratory Aspiration; Risk Factors; Syndrome
PubMed: 25732447
DOI: 10.1378/chest.14-1049 -
Annals of the American Thoracic Society Feb 2020Microaspiration, or silent aspiration, is commonly suspected in patients with refractory respiratory symptoms, including unexplained chronic cough, asthma, chronic... (Review)
Review
Microaspiration, or silent aspiration, is commonly suspected in patients with refractory respiratory symptoms, including unexplained chronic cough, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiolitis, bronchiectasis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This suspicion is driven by the high prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in these otherwise disparate disorders. Frequently, patients receive aggressive treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease as a means of treating their underlying respiratory conditions, even in the absence of overt symptoms of reflux. However, clinical trials have not demonstrated a clear impact on outcomes with this strategy, and in some instances there may be potential for harm. Mechanistic studies have increasingly used gastric biomarkers obtained directly from the airways to confirm the association between reflux and respiratory disease, but results are limited by methodologic flaws and correlation. The best evidence of aspiration directly causing respiratory disorders is the histopathologic detection of foreign bodies. For most of the other chronic respiratory disorders, microaspiration may be uncommon or a secondary aggravating factor, as in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In some cases, microaspiration is probably not a significant factor at all, such as in unexplained chronic cough. It is important to distinguish between conditions in which aspiration is primarily or directly causal and conditions in which aspiration may be indirectly aggravating, to help identify whether interventions targeting reflux and aspiration precautions should be recommended to patients. Our clinical review examines some of the evidence supporting reflux-aspiration as a mechanism for several chronic respiratory disorders and offers some management considerations when reflux-aspiration is suspected.
Topics: Chronic Disease; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Aspiration
PubMed: 31697575
DOI: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201906-427CME -
Acta Clinica Croatica Apr 2023Aspiration and ingestion of a foreign body is most frequently seen in children younger than 3 years. Foreign body aspiration is always a life-threatening, urgent state... (Review)
Review
Aspiration and ingestion of a foreign body is most frequently seen in children younger than 3 years. Foreign body aspiration is always a life-threatening, urgent state demanding quick recognition and treatment to avoid potentially lethal complications. Most foreign bodies that are ingested pass spontaneously through the gastrointestinal tract without complications, however, some could lead to problems if they become lodged. A literature review was performed MEDLINE database using key terms. Primary care providers should be trained to give proper initial care. Aspirated/ingested foreign bodies in children removed by rigid or flexible bronchoscopy/gastroscopy always are challenging procedures that require well-planned anesthesia management and excellent intercommunication between anesthesiologists and surgeons. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can be used as a rescue mode of support in children with life-threatening foreign body aspiration for stabilization before, during and after removal of the aspirated foreign body. It is of utmost importance that all foreign body extractions, if possible, be done in centers supplied with all the necessary equipment and trained personnel. However, prevention of foreign body aspiration and ingestion is still the best therapy.
Topics: Child, Preschool; Humans; Infant; Bronchoscopy; Foreign Bodies; Respiratory Aspiration; Infant, Newborn
PubMed: 38746610
DOI: 10.20471/acc.2023.62.s1.13