09/23/2026
Pulmonary aspiration during the perioperative period can result in varied outcomes. In some patients, little happens beyond a brief episode of coughing or transient hypoxemia. In others, gastric or oropharyngeal contents reaching the lower respiratory tract can trigger chemical pneumonitis, bacterial pneumonia, or more severe acute lung injury.
In severe outcomes, perioperative aspiration can cause diffuse inflammatory lung injury and ARDS. Gastric acid, particulate material, and the...