Pulmonary Aspiration: Pathophysiology, Symptoms, and Clinical Management
1. Introduction Pulmonary aspiration occurs when foreign material, such as food, liquids, saliva, or gastric contents, inadvertently enters the lower respiratory tract instead of passing safely into the esophagus and stomach. In a healthy individual, a complex and highly coordinated series of muscular reflexes protects the airway during swallowing and vomiting. However, when these defenses … Read more