Contents

SynopsisCodesLook ForDiagnostic PearlsDifferential Diagnosis & PitfallsBest TestsManagement PearlsTherapyDrug Reaction DataReferences
Gastric acid aspiration
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Gastric acid aspiration

Contributors: Abhijeet Waghray MD, Christine Osborne MD, Paritosh Prasad MD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

In healthy individuals, gastric acid aspiration is common and usually does not present with symptoms. More common when sleeping, about half of all adults aspirate at nighttime. The volume of aspiration and underlying medical comorbidities determine the extent of symptoms related to aspiration.

Symptomatic aspiration occurs when there is (1) a compromise in the airway defenses (eg, cough reflex, clearing mechanisms), and (2) a substance and amount aspirated is directly toxic to the lower airways. Chemical pneumonitis (sometimes called Mendelson syndrome) is caused by the regurgitation of stomach contents and aspiration resulting in inflammation of the lung. This syndrome is typically confused with bacterial aspiration pneumonia. In aspiration pneumonitis, there is rapid development of symptoms resulting from pulmonary inflammation with fluid accumulation in the alveolar spaces. Aspiration pneumonia, on the other hand, is caused by bacteria from the oral and nasal pharynx and generally is more indolent in presentation. For both conditions, symptoms range from mild shortness of breath to sudden onset of tachypnea and hypoxia.

Codes

ICD10CM:
J95.4 – Chemical pneumonitis due to anesthesia

SNOMEDCT:
155597006 – Aspiration pneumonitis

Look For

Subscription Required

Diagnostic Pearls

Subscription Required

Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

To perform a comparison, select diagnoses from the classic differential

Subscription Required

Best Tests

Subscription Required

Management Pearls

Subscription Required

Therapy

Subscription Required

Drug Reaction Data

Subscription Required

References

Subscription Required

Last Reviewed:02/06/2018
Last Updated:02/06/2018
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.
Gastric acid aspiration
Print  
A medical illustration showing key findings of Gastric acid aspiration : Cough, Fever, Hypoxemia, Tachypnea, Wheezing
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.