Aspiration pneumonia is a major source ...

Aspiration pneumonia is a major source of fever and shortness of breath in patients still in a coma or at lower levels of excitation. This type of pneumonia, pulmonary irritation caused by the contents of the mouth entrance to the airways and not the digestive track. Irritation causes inflammation in the lungs that can cause fever and can produce partial collapse (atelectasis) lungs. If you do not much worry, infection can develop as a result of serious bacterial pneumonia. The most susceptible people are those who can not swallow well, and do not have good reflex cough. Even if these people can be on tube feeding with direct insertion of feeding into the stomach, bypassing the mouth and throat, stomach contents can be spit out into the throat, and then roll the airways in the lungs. Even his own saliva people can run into the lungs, if swallowed do not have a good mechanism. Preventing aspiration pneumonia and its complications can often be achieved by feeding the patient in proper vertical position, even if the tube feeding, and support in an upright position for 30-45 minutes after feeding. In the presence of abundant production of saliva, often dental health and washing the mouth with a dry cloth will help to avoid association of saliva in the back of the mouth, followed by aspiration of saliva. For those who still Tracheostomy, prompt removal of any material vykashlyav end traheostomycheskoy tube will keep mucus and other substances to get involved (atmospheric) back into the lungs in strattera 10mg the next breath. Sometimes frequent suction through the tube may be necessary. Between feedings, frequent change of position, clapping or cupping the breast, using a vibrator on his chest and breathing exercises help keep the lungs expanded and to loosen any material to be sucked on or coughed on. While aspiration pneumonia can often be prevented and can usually be treated when it occurs, aspiration pneumonia can also cause the patient to stop breathing and succumb desire, so it is important to be aware of the situation, looking at it vigorously, when it occurs, and using all methods possible to prevent its occurrence. Mihai Dimancescu, MD

Honorary Chairman, C / TBIRA

This article was first published in our fall 1989 >> ballot. <<