What is aspiration?
Aspiration has two health-related meanings. One is a medical condition, and the other is a procedure, so it is helpful to understand the difference.
Pulmonary aspiration
Share on PinterestSymptoms of aspiration can include coughing, wheezing, and painful swallowing.
Pulmonary aspiration is a condition that occurs when a person inhales a foreign substance into their windpipe and lungs.
It often happens when something a person is eating or drinking goes down the wrong way. Or, it can occur when someone breathes in:
water, such as when swimming or playing in a pool or river
saliva
stomach contents, including vomit
smoke, fumes, or dust
These substances can partially block the airways and irritate the lungs, which can lead to coughing, difficulty breathing, and other symptoms.
The aspiration procedure
Aspiration can also refer to a medical procedure, during which a healthcare professional uses a suction tube or needle to remove harmful fluid from the lungs, joints, abscesses, or other organs or tissues.
A doctor may also perform aspiration to take a sample of fluid and test it for signs of infection,Ā cancer cells, or the presence of certain substances.
Symptoms
When a person aspirates something into their airways, it may not cause obvious symptoms.
However, if the substance even partially blocks the windpipe or irritates the lungs, it can lead to:
coughing
a feeling that something is stuck in the throat
painful swallowing
wheezing
trouble breathing
a hoarse voice
Symptoms of aspiration in children may not be the same as those in adults and can include:
a grimacing expression
weak sucking
excessive drooling
feeding problems or difficulty breathing when feeding
wheezing
Causes
Usually when a person eats or drinks, the food or liquid moves from the mouth into the throat and down through the esophagus, or food pipe, into the stomach.
Pulmonary aspiration occurs when the substance accidentally passes into the windpipe and lungs instead of the esophagus. This typically results from a problem with the swallowing reflex or a lack of tongue control.
Aspiration can also occur while a person is having surgery under anesthesia. The stomach contents can travel up to the mouth, then down through the windpipe and into the lungs.
Anesthesia reduces a personās level of consciousness and ability to protect their airways, which increases the risk of aspiration. This is why doctors often ask people to fast before having a surgical procedure.
Anesthetists also take precautions to prevent aspiration, such as by protecting the airways with intubation after administering anesthesia.
Some health conditions can also increase a personās risk of pulmonary aspiration.
Risk factors
Most people occasionally aspirate something into their lungs, and certain issues can increase this risk. The research indicated that participants with any of the following conditions were seven times more likely to develop aspiration:
dysphagia , which is the medical term for difficulty swallowing
an impaired or absent gag reflex
reduced physical mobility
neurological disorders, such asParkinson 'sdisease
Symptoms of aspiration pneumonia can include:
a chronic cough
coughing up blood or green sputum
aĀ fever
chest pain
fatigue breathing difficulties, such as shortness of breath or wheezing
When aspiration involves toxic fumes, chemical pneumonia can develop.
Although there is no infection, chemical pneumonia causes inflammation and symptoms similar to those of aspiration pneumonia.
Treatment
Treatment for aspiration depends on the severity of a personās symptoms and the material they inhaled. In some instances, treatment is unnecessary.
If an object, such as a piece of food, is still in the lungs, the doctor may recommend a bronchoscopy.
During this procedure, a healthcare professional will insert a tube with a camera down a personās throat and into the lungs to remove the foreign material.
For people aspiration pneumonia, a doctor may prescribeĀ antibiotics to help clear the infection.
When aspiration results from a medical condition, such as a stroke, speech therapy may help to improve a personās swallowing reflex and lower their risk of aspiration.
Dietary and lifestyle changes can also help treat chronic aspiration. If it fails to respond to these methods, a person may require tube-feeding to meet their nutritional needs.