Pulmonary aspiration
Pulmonary Aspiration
Pulmonary aspiration (/pʌlˈmɒnəri æspɪˈreɪʃən/) is a medical condition that occurs when foreign materials, typically food, drink, or stomach contents, are inhaled into the lungs. This can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia or lung abscess.
Etymology
The term "pulmonary" (/pʌlˈmɒnəri/) originates from the Latin pulmo, meaning "lung". "Aspiration" (/æspɪˈreɪʃən/) comes from the Latin aspirare, which means "to breathe out" or "to exhale", but in this context, it refers to the inhalation of foreign material.
Causes
Pulmonary aspiration can occur due to various reasons, including dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and certain neurological conditions such as stroke or Parkinson's disease. It can also occur during anesthesia, especially if a patient has not fasted before surgery.
Symptoms
Symptoms of pulmonary aspiration may include sudden coughing, difficulty breathing, fever, and a decrease in oxygen levels in the blood. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory failure.
Treatment
Treatment for pulmonary aspiration typically involves addressing the underlying cause and may include antibiotics to treat or prevent infection, oxygen therapy to maintain adequate oxygen levels, and in severe cases, mechanical ventilation.
Related Terms
- Aspiration pneumonia: A type of pneumonia that occurs as a result of pulmonary aspiration.
- Aspiration pneumonitis: Inflammation of the lungs caused by inhaling foreign substances.
- Silent aspiration: Aspiration that occurs without any noticeable signs or symptoms.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pulmonary aspiration
- Wikipedia's article - Pulmonary aspiration
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski