Which of the following helps prevent aspiration?
Aspiration means inhaling some kind of foreign object or substance into your airway. Usually, it’s food, saliva, or stomach contents that make their way into your lungs when you swallow, vomit, or experience heartburn. Show Aspiration is more common in older adults, infants, people who have trouble swallowing or controlling their tongues, and people who are intubated. Sometimes aspiration won’t cause symptoms. This is called “silent aspiration.” You may experience a sudden cough as your lungs try to clear out the substance. Some people may wheeze, have trouble breathing, or have a hoarse voice after they eat, drink, vomit, or experience heartburn. You may have chronic aspiration if this occurs frequently. Many times, aspiration doesn’t cause complications. Sometimes, however, it can lead to serious problems such as aspiration pneumonia, which is a lung infection. If you suspect aspiration in yourself or someone you care for, you should see your doctor. Read on to learn what increases your risk for aspiration, complications, treatment, and more. Some people refer to a case of aspiration as food “going down the wrong way.” This can happen due to reduced tongue control, poor swallowing reflexes, or medical devices that assist with breathing. The average person can usually cough out a foreign object before it enters the lungs. Most often, aspiration is due to one of the following causes: Aspiration during surgeryWhile you’re under general anesthesia or sedation, contents from your stomach may move up to your mouth and enter your trachea and lungs. Surgical teams are prepared for these moments, but this is why it’s important to fast before surgery. Drooling after surgery might be a sign of aspiration. A 2019 study out of Australia and New Zealand found that emergency procedures and the patient being over the age of 80 are two of the biggest risk factors for aspiration during surgery. People with health problems that affect swallowing are at a higher risk of aspirating. These health conditions include:
Aspiration in older adultsOlder adults are also more likely to have a condition known as dysphagia, which is difficulty swallowing. It’s common among stroke patients and adults with dementia, Parkinson’s disease, GERD, multiple sclerosis, and other neuromuscular conditions. Aspiration is one symptom of dysphagia. Older adults who need a feeding tube are also at higher risk of aspiration. Symptoms of aspiration usually appear after eating, drinking, vomiting, or an episode of heartburn. Silent aspiration usually has no symptoms, and people aren’t always aware that fluids or stomach contents have entered their lungs. Overt aspiration will usually cause sudden, noticeable symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, or a hoarse voice. Silent aspiration can occur in people with sensory differences or who are under institutional care. In these cases, drooling or changes in the sound of their breathing and talking may be clues of swallowing difficulties. Make an appointment with the doctor if you or someone you know experiences these symptoms after eating, drinking, vomiting, or an episode of heartburn, especially if they:
If you notice someone choking or having trouble breathing, it’s important to call 911 and seek emergency help immediately. You should make an appointment to see a doctor if you have repeated symptoms that reflect difficulty swallowing, like:
You should also call your doctor if you frequently aspirate or regularly experience any of the following:
Symptoms don’t always occur right away. They may develop after periods of aspiration and may turn into serious complications such as lung scarring or aspiration pneumonia. Your doctor will ask if you’ve experienced any symptoms of aspiration, including after eating. If there are no symptoms, they may do a modified barium swallow test, which looks at your esophagus. During a barium swallow test, your doctor will ask you to swallow a liquid that shows up on the X-ray to help them determine whether you have any underlying swallowing disorders. Other testsYour doctor may also ask about other potential symptoms such as fever or chest pain to look for signs of pneumonia or pulmonary edema. They’ll also check for any problems with swallowing or underlying conditions such as GERD. If they suspect aspiration has developed into another complication, they’ll order tests to see if there’s food or fluid in the lungs. These may include:
Treatment for aspiration depends on the cause. For less severe cases, treatment may involve taking steps to stop aspiration from happening again. For some people, this may include:
Some people may also benefit from dysphagia therapy, which focuses on techniques to swallow safely and efficiently. If someone has aspiration pneumonia, they may require hospitalization. Doctors may administer antibiotics or use a ventilator to help the person breathe. Severe cases may require surgery. Aspiration increases your risk for aspiration pneumonia. This is a condition where pneumonia develops after inhaling non-air substances; such as food, liquid, saliva, or even foreign objects. A similar process can occur with aspiration pneumonitis (which is the inhalation of sterile gastric contents). These two conditions can be difficult to differentiate. Pneumonia can cause an influx of liquid in your lungs. This and injury from inhalation can result in pulmonary edema, which puts a strain on your lungs. In most cases, you won’t know you’ve developed pneumonia or pulmonary edema until you experience other symptoms such as difficulty breathing, coughing with mucus, or you receive a clinical diagnosis. SymptomsSymptoms of aspiration may appear differently in children or infants. They may appear as:
Risk factorsConditions that increase the risk of aspiration in children and infants are also those that contribute to swallowing disorders. They include:
Treatment and outlookAspiration in children may get better over time, depending on the cause. Treating the cause will often improve aspiration. You can also help to minimize your child’s risk by:
In severe and high risk cases, your child may need a feeding tube to ensure they get enough nutrition until their condition improves. Talk with your doctor if you think your child has problems with aspiration. It’s important to check that aspiration hasn’t developed into a complication. Anyone can aspirate. Most people tend to cough up the content they’ve inhaled. But people with an underlying condition are at a higher risk for aspiration developing into something more serious. The outlook for aspiration depends on the cause. For many people, swallowing therapy and eating techniques — such as softening, chopping, or pureeing solid foods — can help prevent aspiration. What protects you from aspirating?The primary methods used to prevent aspiration during oral intake in dysphagic stroke patients include texture modification of food/liquids and positional swallowing maneuvers, such as chin-tuck or head rotation (Smithard, 2016).
How can a CNA prevent aspiration?Stay upright for 45 minutes to 1 hour after you eat or drink. Eat small amounts slowly. Do not eat or drink with a straw. Take small bites and chew well before you swallow.
Which action would the nurse take to prevent aspiration?Withholding fluids and foods as needed prevents aspiration. Provide foods with consistency that the patient can swallow. Use thickening agents if recommended by a speech pathologist or dietician.
Which of the following is the best prevention for aspiration pneumonia?Things that you can do to reduce your risk of aspiration pneumonia include the following: Avoid drinking alcohol to excess and using recreational drugs. These can affect your ability to swallow. Stay upright when you are eating.
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