Everyone is at a risk of inhaling fluids into their lungs a process called aspiration. This is especially so for patients with certain chronic or acute diseases. These fluids may be food particles, liquids such as drinks or even saliva or may be gastric contents such as vomit. Aspiration is highly risky, sometimes leading to death and therefore aspiration precautions need to be taken.
When the risk of aspiration occurring is suspected, a swallowing evaluation is supposed to be made. The function of a swallowing evaluation is to assess the probability of risk, swallowing difficulties and also determine foods which are safe for consumption in such scenarios. Necessary precautions are then recommended in case the risk is assessed to be high.
Fluid entering into the airway is almost always blamed on tube feeding. Certain conditions like spinal injuries, irregular consciousness and complications arising from post surgery warrant the use of tubes for feeding. In this scenario, there is the danger that fluids in the stomach may get into the airways. Hence, an upright position should be always maintained during feeding of patients by caregivers. They should also remember to turn off the tube when the feeding process is done.
Mouth feeding is not very different from tube feeding as the person is to be in upright position too. This is possible by sitting on a chair or even on a bed and should be maintained after feeding for up to half an hour long. Similarly, for both feeding modes, food should be consumed with ease and slowly. A 30 to 45 degree of elevation of the head on the bed should be ensured unless contraindicated.
Aspiration may also result if a patient is not fully conscious or if the level of consciousness is minimal. This is as a result of illness or medication which causes drowsy side effects. As a result, frequent monitoring of the level of consciousness is done for critical patients. Lastly, administering of any foods or liquid should be only to patients who are fully alert.
General anesthesia during surgery may also cause intake of fluids into the lungs. Sedatives should therefore be used only when necessary to keep the patient awake as much as possible. In addition, surgery should be performed on an open stomach as the risk is lower. This is the reason why most doctors ask their patients to avoid food for a certain number of hours before undergoing an operation. Sedation is also the cause of lowered cough and gag reflexes.
Inability to cough or have a normal gag reflex may cause aspiration as cough reflexes remove particles likely to enter into the airways. As a result, coughing problems should be addressed without delay. The ability to have a normal cough reflex and clearing of throat should be made during a swallowing evaluation.
With fluids in the lung the risk for getting pneumonia is four times higher. Like wise, lung infection bearing pus in the lungs is also possible. When solid matter is inhaled into the airway, the situation is potentially fatal. To avert all these problems, it is prudent to have the necessary precautions in place and abide by them.
When the risk of aspiration occurring is suspected, a swallowing evaluation is supposed to be made. The function of a swallowing evaluation is to assess the probability of risk, swallowing difficulties and also determine foods which are safe for consumption in such scenarios. Necessary precautions are then recommended in case the risk is assessed to be high.
Fluid entering into the airway is almost always blamed on tube feeding. Certain conditions like spinal injuries, irregular consciousness and complications arising from post surgery warrant the use of tubes for feeding. In this scenario, there is the danger that fluids in the stomach may get into the airways. Hence, an upright position should be always maintained during feeding of patients by caregivers. They should also remember to turn off the tube when the feeding process is done.
Mouth feeding is not very different from tube feeding as the person is to be in upright position too. This is possible by sitting on a chair or even on a bed and should be maintained after feeding for up to half an hour long. Similarly, for both feeding modes, food should be consumed with ease and slowly. A 30 to 45 degree of elevation of the head on the bed should be ensured unless contraindicated.
Aspiration may also result if a patient is not fully conscious or if the level of consciousness is minimal. This is as a result of illness or medication which causes drowsy side effects. As a result, frequent monitoring of the level of consciousness is done for critical patients. Lastly, administering of any foods or liquid should be only to patients who are fully alert.
General anesthesia during surgery may also cause intake of fluids into the lungs. Sedatives should therefore be used only when necessary to keep the patient awake as much as possible. In addition, surgery should be performed on an open stomach as the risk is lower. This is the reason why most doctors ask their patients to avoid food for a certain number of hours before undergoing an operation. Sedation is also the cause of lowered cough and gag reflexes.
Inability to cough or have a normal gag reflex may cause aspiration as cough reflexes remove particles likely to enter into the airways. As a result, coughing problems should be addressed without delay. The ability to have a normal cough reflex and clearing of throat should be made during a swallowing evaluation.
With fluids in the lung the risk for getting pneumonia is four times higher. Like wise, lung infection bearing pus in the lungs is also possible. When solid matter is inhaled into the airway, the situation is potentially fatal. To avert all these problems, it is prudent to have the necessary precautions in place and abide by them.
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