Aspiration

Aspiration
Breathing of fluids or foods into the trachea and lungs.

whitish patch shows fluids/other objects in the lungs.

-Aspiration of stomach contents into lungs is a serious complication that can cause pneumonia ( accumulation of fluid (serous, exudates, blood) and result in the following clinical picture :

Clinical Manifestation
1. tachycardia (abnormal rapid speed of heart beat >100/min)
2. dyspnea (difficulty in breathing)
3. HPT (hypertension/ high blood pressure)
4. hypotension (low blood pressure)
5. central cyanosis (lack of O2 supply to the central nervous system) and finally
6. death

Risk Factors
1. seizure activity/ fits
2. decreased level of consciousness (trauma, drug, alcohol intoxication, sedation, nausea and vomit)
3. stroke
4. swallowing disorder
5. cardiac arrest
6. silent aspiration
7. lying in supine position (flat with body and head facing up)
8. bolus or intermittent feeding delivery methods eg: Nasogastric Tube
9. advanced age

Prevention
1. Low Fowler's position (head up 30 - 45 degree angle)
2. Assessment placement of nasogastric tube (NGT)
3. Stumulate cough and gag reflexes

..................................................................................

A story told by my Gastrointestinal Tract Nursing subject lecturer, Mdm. T.

A mother, M delivered a baby, B. What a happy environment in the labour room. Fortunate yet unfortunately, B had a cleft lip. M was able to accept the little cleft lip baby as her daugther.

Because B had a cleft lip, she had to be fed through a NGT.
A nurse taught M to feed B with wrong method, which is without consider the little baby's toleration of milk.

Mdm. T was back from her night shift, she rang M to ask about B's condition.
M told her, "B is very inactive, maybe just now my husband shut the door forcefully unintentionally. Frightened her." Mdm. T noted and went to sleep as she was too tired.

Middle of the night, M rang Mdm. T and told her that B turned blue. M quickly sent B to hospital for resuscitation. Dr. aspirated (remove fluids out from lungs) 500 - 600mls of milk in the lungs.
As the B was intolerate amount of M fed, which taught by the nurse, excessive of amount of milk went into the lungs caused aspiration. Aspiration led to impaired gaseous exchange.

B died due to the carelessness of the nurse.
If B is still alive, she will be a 20 years old young lady.

A proper education to a mother how to take care of their child is very important!
Think wise, act nice, save lives~!