aspiration pneumonitis

A pneumonia that is defined as an acute lung injury after the inhalation of foreign material such as regurgitated acidic gastric contents, petroleum products and laxative oils. This syndrome occurs in patients who have a marked disturbance of consciousness suc

A pneumonia that is defined as an acute lung injury after the inhalation of foreign material such as regurgitated acidic gastric contents, petroleum products and laxative oils. This syndrome occurs in patients who have a marked disturbance of consciousness such as that resulting from a drug overdose, seizures, a massive cerebrovascular accident, or the use of anesthesia. Aspiration of gastric contents results in a chemical burn of the tracheobronchial tree and pulmonary parenchyma, causing an intense parenchymal inflammatory reaction. The disease with symptoms of non-productive cough, with symptoms of tachypnea, with symptoms of bronchospasm, with symptoms of bloody sputum, with symptoms of frothy sputum, or with symptoms of respiratory distress, 2-5 hrs after aspiration.

Also known as: Chemical pneumonitis; Mendelson's Syndrome