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.
Swallowing evaluations should always be carried out in cases where the probability of aspiration is high. They are meant to assess the risk of aspiration, check whether there are difficulties in swallowing and the safest type of foods for the patient to consume. When there is a risk for particles passing through the airway, then precautions are taken.
Tube feeding represents one of the biggest causes of entrance of fluid into the airway. They are used in feeding people with spinal cord injuries, neuromuscular weaknesses, post operation complication or altered consciousness. The risk with tube feeding is that stomach fluids are likely to get into the lungs. As a result, caregivers who feed patients through tubes need to ensure that they are in an upright position. In addition, the feeding tube should be turned off if not in use.
Similar to tube feeding, feeding through the mouth also requires the patient to be upright. They can be made upright on a chair or a bed and that position maintained for a while. In addition, for both modes of feeding, food should not forced or given hurriedly. In addition, an angle of elevation measuring around 30 to 45 degrees is advised.
A patient who is not conscious or is slightly conscious has higher chances of aspiration. Medication which has side effects such as drowsiness or weakness can also be blamed. Therefore, the level of consciousness of patients should always be monitored frequently. In addition, only patients who are fully alert should be given food or liquid.
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.
There is a four times higher risk for pneumonia in patients who have fluids in the lungs. In addition, it could lead to lung infection indicated by presence of pus. Moreover, death may result if solid particles are aspirated. However, taking the necessary precautions ensure that these risks are lower.
Swallowing evaluations should always be carried out in cases where the probability of aspiration is high. They are meant to assess the risk of aspiration, check whether there are difficulties in swallowing and the safest type of foods for the patient to consume. When there is a risk for particles passing through the airway, then precautions are taken.
Tube feeding represents one of the biggest causes of entrance of fluid into the airway. They are used in feeding people with spinal cord injuries, neuromuscular weaknesses, post operation complication or altered consciousness. The risk with tube feeding is that stomach fluids are likely to get into the lungs. As a result, caregivers who feed patients through tubes need to ensure that they are in an upright position. In addition, the feeding tube should be turned off if not in use.
Similar to tube feeding, feeding through the mouth also requires the patient to be upright. They can be made upright on a chair or a bed and that position maintained for a while. In addition, for both modes of feeding, food should not forced or given hurriedly. In addition, an angle of elevation measuring around 30 to 45 degrees is advised.
A patient who is not conscious or is slightly conscious has higher chances of aspiration. Medication which has side effects such as drowsiness or weakness can also be blamed. Therefore, the level of consciousness of patients should always be monitored frequently. In addition, only patients who are fully alert should be given food or liquid.
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.
There is a four times higher risk for pneumonia in patients who have fluids in the lungs. In addition, it could lead to lung infection indicated by presence of pus. Moreover, death may result if solid particles are aspirated. However, taking the necessary precautions ensure that these risks are lower.
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