TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 511. Aspiration Syndromes A1 - Daines, Cori L. A2 - Rudolph, Colin D. A2 - Rudolph, Abraham M. A2 - Lister, George E. A2 - First, Lewis R. A2 - Gershon, Anne A. Y1 - 2011 N1 - T2 - Rudolph's Pediatrics, 22e AB - Pulmonary aspiration is defined as the passage of foreign material or fluid into the lungs during inspiration. Although food or gastric contents are considered the main culprits, anything from saliva to plastic toys can be aspirated. Aspiration of saliva and gastric contents can occur in normal individuals silently, especially at night.1,2 The true hazards of aspiration were not reported in the medical literature until 1946 when Mendelson described the clinical and pathologic findings in obstetric patients who aspirated large-volume gastric contents. He described the “asthmalike” symptoms of these patients and then showed in animal models that acidic material, with pH less than 2.5, caused inflammation, damage, and desquamation of the mucosa in the lungs.3 Pathologic aspiration events can be divided into 2 main categories: acute and chronic. The acute events include large-volume aspiration of gastric contents or other fluid, hydrocarbon aspiration, near-drowning, and foreign body aspiration. The chronic events include recurrent, small-volume aspiration of saliva, food, upper airway secretions, or gastroesophageal reflux. Large-volume aspiration events are usually witnessed and can be directly addressed. Recurrent small-volume aspirations are often silent and more difficult to diagnose and manage. It is important to recognize the risk factors to properly diagnose aspiration (Table 511-1). SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/17 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=7051223 ER -