Pulmonary aspiration pathophysiology
Pulmonary aspiration Microchapters |
Diagnosis |
---|
Treatment |
Case Studies |
Pulmonary aspiration pathophysiology On the Web |
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Pulmonary aspiration pathophysiology |
Risk calculators and risk factors for Pulmonary aspiration pathophysiology |
Please help WikiDoc by adding content here. It's easy! Click here to learn about editing.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
The lungs are normally protected against aspiration by a series of "protective reflexes" such as coughing and swallowing. Significant aspiration can only occur if the protective reflexes are absent (in neurological disease, coma, drug overdose, sedation or general anesthesia). In intensive care, sitting patients up reduces the risk of pulmonary aspiration and ventilator associated pneumonia.