Utilizing procalcitonin in a clinical setting to help differentiate between aspiration pneumonia and aspiration pneumonitis.

OBJECTIVE: Aspiration can lead to complications such as aspiration pneumonia (ASPNA) or aspiration pneumonitis. Use of procalcitonin (PCT) assays has been supported to help differentiate between bacterial and nonbacterial etiologies for infection. We hypothesize PCT levels will differ significantly in patients with ASPNA versus aspiration pneumonitis. METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed patients with an ICD-10 diagnosis of ASPNA or aspiration pneumonitis from September 2017 to September 2019. 228 patients met criteria and were divided into two cohorts: aspiration pneumonitis (45 patients) or ASPNA (183 patients). Initial and 48-hour PCTs were assessed. RESULTS: The aspiration pneumonitis cohort had a higher percentage of patients with normal initial PCT levels than the ASPNA cohort (86.7% vs 38.8%; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests PCT could be a useful tool to help differentiate between ASPNA and aspiration pneumonitis. We postulate utilizing PCT levels alongside current diagnostic criteria would allow for more appropriate treatment and improved antibiotic stewardship.

Neumonía lipoidea exógena aguda por aspiración accidental de hidrocarburos / Acute exogenous lipoid pneumonia for accidental aspiration of hydrocarbons

La neumonía lipoidea es una enfermedad respiratoria poco conocida que resulta de la acumulación de lípidos de origen endógeno o exógeno a nivel del alveolo pulmonar. Suele ser subdiagnosticada ya que la presentación clínica es inespecífica, por lo que suele confundirse con otras patologías broncopulmonares. Se presentó el caso de un paciente de 18 años antecedentes de aspiración accidental de combustible que seis horas después comenzó con fiebre, hemoptisis, tos y disnea. Se realizó radiografía de tórax donde se observó una neumonía en base derecha que unido al interrogatorio y a la realización de la broncoscopía confirmaron el diagnóstico de neumonía lipoidea. El paciente evolucionó favorablemente con el tratamiento(AU)

Lipoid pneumonia is a little known respiratory disease that results from the accumulation of lipids of endogenous or exogenous origin in the pulmonary alveolus. It is usually underdiagnosed since the clinical presentation is nonspecific, which is why it is often confused with other bronchopulmonary pathologies. We report the case of an 18-year-old patient with a history of accidental fuel aspiration, who ran fever six hours later, together with hemoptysis, cough, and dyspnea. Chest X-rays showed a right base pneumonia. The questioning and the performance of the bronchoscopy confirmed the diagnosis of lipoid pneumonia. The patient evolved favorably with the treatment(AU)

Severe symptomatic hyponatraemia secondary to bowel preparation.

​A 62-year-old woman presented to a rural Australian hospital for a planned admission to receive bowel preparation 1 day prior to an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy. This admission was complicated by seizures and reduced levels of consciousness in the setting of hyponatraemia secondary to bowel preparation. Given the limited resources in a remote/rural Australian hospital, transfer to a tertiary level hospital was required for review and management of this rare complication of bowel preparation.

The possible protective role of pumpkin seed oil in an animal model of acid aspiration pneumonia: Light and electron microscopic study.

Aspiration pneumonitis is a common problem occurring in many clinical disorders. Pumpkin seed oil (PO) is a rich source of antioxidants. This work aimed to assess the effect of PO on the lung histopathological changes induced by acid aspiration. Forty male albino rats assigned to four groups were used. Rats of control group were instilled intratracheally with normal saline 2mL/kg. HCL group instilled with 2mL/kg of HCL 0.1N, pH 1.25. PO group received pumpkin seed oil (PO) orally (∼1375mg/kgbw/day) for 7days. HCL+PO group instilled with 2mL/kg of HCL 0.1N, pH 1.25 and received PO at the same dose of PO group. Lung tissue samples were processed for light, electron microscopic and immunohistochemical study using anti inducible NO synthase (iNOS). The lung of HCL group demonstrated thickened interalveolar septa, inflammatory cell infiltration and significant increase in the area percent of collagenous fibers and immune expression of iNOS. Ultra structurally, disrupted alveolocapillay membrane, degenerated type II pneumocytes and plentiful alveolar macrophages were evident. PO administration partially attenuated these histological and ultra structural alterations and reduced iNOS immune-expression in lung tissue. In conclusion, PO has a protective effect against HCL aspiration lung injury most probably through its antioxidant activity.

Radical esophagectomy for a 92-year-old woman with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-producing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-producing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has been considered to have a poor prognosis. We successfully treated a case of G-CSF-producing ESCC in a 92-year-old woman. CASE PRESENTATION: A 92-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with the complaints of choking while swallowing and dysphagia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a type 2 esophageal cancer located 26-35 cm from the dental arch, with no distant metastasis. The patient was diagnosed with G-CSF-producing ESCC based on remarkable leukocytosis and high G-CSF levels. The patient underwent radical subtotal esophagectomy. Subsequently, the level of neutrophils (from 23,500/µL to 5000/µL) and the level of G-CSF (from 131 to <19.5 pg/mL) decreased significantly. Immunohistochemistry analysis of the resected tissue specimen showed positive staining for G-CSF in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. Although the patient developed aspiration pneumonitis, after antibiotic treatment, she promptly recovered and was discharged. CONCLUSIONS: Herein, we describe a case of successfully treated G-CSF-producing ESCC in a 92-year-old woman. Precise detection and safely performed immediate radical operation are considered essential to achieve a good clinical course.

A Patient With Aspiration Pneumonia After Mandibular Osteotomy With Genioplasty.

Orthognathic surgery including maxillary osteotomy, mandibular osteotomy, and genioplasty is a reliable treatment strategy for jaw deformity. However, there are some complications associated with these surgeries, including neurovascular damage and abnormal bleeding. The authors present here a patient of aspiration pneumonia after mandibular osteotomy.An 18-year-old female patient underwent sagittal split ramus osteotomy and genioplasty for mandibular prognathism. She began choking and coughing immediately after surgery. She was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia based on chest radiography and computed tomography findings. Her hyoid bone was shifted 23 mm inferiorly after surgery, and this movement may have caused swallowing dysfunction. She was treated with intravenous antibiotics and discharged on the 18th postoperative day.Although the hyoid bone is transiently shifted inferiorly by mandibular setback with or without genioplasty, this shift does not usually affect swallowing function. Damage to the suprahyoid muscles during genioplasty may cause both an inferior shift and dysmobility of the hyoid bone. Therefore, surgeons must be careful not to damage the suprahyoid muscles at the lingual site osteotomy in genioplasty to avoid this complication.

Rare complication of a common obesity procedure.

Laparoscopic gastric banding has been widely used to treat obesity. Aspiration pneumonia has not been reported as a complication of bariatric surgery. We present a patient who had bariatric surgery and presented with aspiration pneumonia. A 64-year-old woman with a medical history of obesity and laparoscopic gastric banding presented to urgent care with 1 month of dry, continuous cough. A chest CT scan demonstrated a large opacity in the left upper lobe peripherally containing an air bronchogram, and the oesophagus was significantly enlarged and fluid filled. The patient was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. She received antibiotics and the gastric band was deflated. A repeat CT scan showed resolution of the pneumonia. To our knowledge, aspiration pneumonia is an unreported complication of gastric banding. Not recognising this complication may cause delay in the correct diagnosis and leads to invasive procedures with increased morbidity.

The effect of methylene blue treatment on aspiration pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to examine whether methylene blue (MB) prevents different pulmonary aspiration materials-induced lung injury in rats. METHODS: The experiments were designed in 60 Sprague-Dawley rats, ranging in weight from 250-300 g, randomly allotted into one of six groups (n = 10): saline control, Biosorb Energy Plus (BIO), hydrochloric acid (HCl), saline + MB treated, BIO + MB treated, and HCl + MB treated. Saline, BIO, and HCl were injected into the lungs in a volume of 2 mL/kg. After surgical procedure, MB was administered intraperitoneally for 7 days at a daily dose of 2 mg/kg per day. Seven days later, rats were killed, and both lungs in all groups were examined biochemically and histopathologically. RESULTS: Our findings show that MB inhibits the inflammatory response reducing significantly (P < 0.05) peribronchial inflammatory cell infiltration, alveolar septal infiltration, alveolar edema, alveolar exudate, alveolar histiocytes, interstitial fibrosis, granuloma, and necrosis formation in different pulmonary aspiration models. Pulmonary aspiration significantly increased the tissue hydroxyproline content, malondialdehyde levels, and decreased (P < 0.05) the antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) activities. MB treatment significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the elevated tissue hydroxyproline content and malondialdehyde levels and prevented the inhibition of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05) enzymes in the tissues. Furthermore, there is a significant reduction in the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling, and arise in the expression of surfactant protein D in lung tissue of different pulmonary aspiration models with MB therapy. CONCLUSIONS: MB treatment might be beneficial in lung injury and therefore shows potential for clinical use.

TRPV4: an exciting new target to promote alveolocapillary barrier function.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are emerging as important players and drug targets in respiratory disease. Amongst the vanilloid-type TRP channels (which includes the six members of the TRPV family), target diseases include cough, asthma, cancer, and more recently, pulmonary edema associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Here, we critically evaluate a recent report that addresses TRPV4 as a candidate target for the management of acute lung injury that develops as a consequence of aspiration of gastric contents, or acute chlorine gas exposure. By use of two new TRPV4 inhibitors (GSK2220691 or GSK2337429A) and a trpv4(-/-) mouse strain, TRPV4 was implicated as a key mediator of pulmonary inflammation after direct chemical insult. Additionally, applied therapeutically, TRPV4 inhibitors exhibited vasculoprotective effects after chlorine gas exposure, inhibiting vascular leakage, and improving blood oxygenation. These observations underscore TRPV4 channels as candidate therapeutic targets in the management of lung injury, with the added need to balance these against the potential drawbacks of TRPV4 inhibition, such as the danger of limiting the immune response in settings of pathogen-provoked injury.

Glutamine attenuates acute lung injury caused by acid aspiration.

Inadequate ventilator settings may cause overwhelming inflammatory responses associated with ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Here, we examined potential benefits of glutamine (GLN) on a two-hit model for VILI after acid aspiration-induced lung injury in rats. Rats were intratracheally challenged with hydrochloric acid as a first hit to induce lung inflammation, then randomly received intravenous GLN or lactated Ringer's solution (vehicle control) thirty min before different ventilator strategies. Rats were then randomized to receive mechanical ventilation as a second hit with a high tidal volume (TV) of 15 mL/kg and zero positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) or a low TV of 6 mL/kg with PEEP of 5 cm H2O. We evaluated lung oxygenation, inflammation, mechanics, and histology. After ventilator use for 4 h, high TV resulted in greater lung injury physiologic and biologic indices. Compared with vehicle treated rats, GLN administration attenuated lung injury, with improved oxygenation and static compliance, and decreased respiratory elastance, lung edema, extended lung destruction (lung injury scores and lung histology), neutrophil recruitment in the lung, and cytokine production. Thus, GLN administration improved the physiologic and biologic profiles of this experimental model of VILI based on the two-hit theory.

Thermal taste and anti-aspiration drugs: a novel drug discovery against pneumonia.

Despite the development of strong antibiotics, the pneumonia death is increasing all over the world in these decades. Among the people who died of pneumonia, the majority were 65 years old or over. Although pneumonia is recently categorized into several entities, aspiration pneumonia includes all entities. Therefore, targeting dysphagia and aspiration to treat pneumonia is a promising strategy and anti-aspiration drugs will be a part of pneumonia treatment. The swallowing reflex in elderly people was temperature-sensitive and the improvement of swallowing reflex by temperature stimuli could be mediated by the thermosensing TRP channels at pharynx. The administration of capsaicin as an agonist stimulus of TRPV1, a warm temperature receptor, decreased the delay in swallowing reflex. Red wine polyphenols improved swallowing reflex by enhancing TRPV1 response. Food with menthol, agonist of TRPM8 which is a cold temperature receptor, also decreased the delay in swallowing reflex. Olfactory stimulation such as black pepper was useful to improve the swallowing reflex for people with low ADL levels or with decreased consciousness. Thus, recent advancement of geriatrics found several anti-aspiration drugs such as thermosensing TRP channel agonists, black pepper odor, amantadine, cilostazol, theophylline and angiotensin- converting enzymes inhibitors. Thermosensing TRP channel agonists include capsaicin, capsiate, menthol, and red wine polyphenols. Controls of swallowing are mediated by various stages of neural system from peripheral sensory nerves to the entire cerebral cortex. Each anti-aspiration drug acts on various sites of neural axis of swallowing reflex. The combination of various anti-aspiration drugs may improve dysphagia and prevent aspiration pneumonia.

Logistic regression analysis of risk factors for prolonged pulmonary recovery in children from aspirated foreign body.

OBJECTIVE: Foreign body aspiration is a life-threatening emergency for children. Fried chicken is commonly available all over the world, but no cases have previously been reported addressing this food as a tracheobronchial foreign body. We report an extremely rare case of tracheobronchial aspiration of fried chicken complicated by severe bronchitis and postoperative atelectasis. To clarify predisposing factors related to bronchopulmonary complications, we also reviewed paediatric cases of tracheobronchial foreign bodies treated in our department over the past 14 years. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a total of 77 cases of tracheobronchial foreign bodies from 1988 to 2011. The main outcome measure was duration of hospitalisation, reflecting postoperative therapy. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine risk factors for longer hospitalisation. RESULTS: Age, sex, and interval between the aspiration episode and bronchoscopy were not significantly associated with longer hospitalisation. Regarding kinds of foreign bodies, higher rates of longer hospitalisation were noted for patients who had aspirated peanut or animal material, as compared to patients who had aspirated non-organic material (odds ratio, 5.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-30.43). CONCLUSIONS: In terms of predicting the risk of pulmonary complications, the type of foreign body aspirated offers a more meaningful factor than the interval between aspiration and operation. Specifically, peanuts or animal material containing oils appear to be associated with a more prolonged pulmonary recovery even after retrieval of the foreign body.

The effects of α-tocopherol on oxidative damage and serum levels of Clara cell protein 16 in aspiration pneumonitis induced by bile acids.

Our aim in this study is to examine the effects of α-tocopherol (AT) on rats with aspiration pneumonitis induced with bile acids (BAs). The animals were divided in to four groups, namely saline group (n = 7), saline + AT group (n = 7), BA group (n = 7), and BA + AT group (n = 7). Saline and BA groups aspirated intratracheally with 1 ml/kg saline and 1 ml/kg bile acids, respectively. AT was given at 20 mg/kg/day dosage for 7 days to the groups. AT group was given 20 mg/kg/day AT for 7 days. Malondialdehyde (MDA), Clara cell protein 16 (CC-16), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as peribronchial inflammatory cell infiltration, alveolar septal infiltration, alveolar edema, alveolar exudate, alveolar histiocytes, and necrosis were evaluated. The CAT activity of the BA group was significantly lower than the saline group. In the BA + AT group, there was a significant increase in SOD and CAT activities when compared with that of the BA group. The CC-16 and MDA contents in the BA group were significantly higher than in the saline group. The CC-16 and MDA levels of the BA + AT group were significantly lower than BA group. Histopathologic changes were seen in BA group, and there was a significant decrease in the BA + AT group. In conclusion, AT might be beneficial in the treatment of aspiration pneumonitis induced by BAs because AT decreased oxidative damage and resulted in a decrease in CC-16 levels.

Risk factors and prognosis of pulmonary complications after endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric neoplasia.

BACKGROUND: Hospital-acquired pneumonia after an endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) can prolong the patient's stay in the hospital, leading to greater healthcare costs. However, little is known of the characteristics and risk factors associated with this complication. AIMS: To analyze the clinical features of pneumonia after ESD and to suggest a treatment plan. METHODS: This was a retrospective study in which the cases of 1,661 consecutive patients who underwent ESD for 1,725 lesions between January 2008 and June 2011 were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 1,661 patients who underwent ESD during the study period, 38 were subsequently diagnosed with pneumonia, and an additional 18 patients exhibited lung consolidation, based on chest radiography, without respiratory signs or symptoms. The remaining 1,605 patients showed neither lung consolidation on chest radiography nor respiratory signs/symptoms. Continuous propofol infusion with intermittent or continuous administration of an opioid [odds ratio (OR) 4.498, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.267-8.923], a procedure time of >2 h (OR 2.900, 95 % CI 1.307-6.439), male gender (OR 2.835, 95 % CI 1.164-6.909), and age >75 years (OR 2.765, 95 % CI 1.224-6.249) were independent risk factors for pneumonia after ESD. In patients with only lung consolidation (without respiratory signs and symptoms), the length of hospital stay and prognosis were not affected by antibiotics use. CONCLUSIONS: Deep sedation under continuous propofol infusion with opioid injection during ESD may be a risk factor for pneumonia.

Coma blisters with hypoxemic respiratory failure.

A 24-year-old woman with quadriplegia was admitted with respiratory failure because of pneumonia. She was on multiple medications including diazepam, oxycodone, and amitriptyline, known to be associated with coma blisters, though she did not overdose on any of them. On hospital day 2, she developed multiple blisters on both sides of her right forearm and hand. Skin biopsy showed eccrine gland degeneration consistent with coma blisters. It was felt that hypoxemia from her pneumonia contributed to the development of these blisters, which occurred on both pressure and non-pressure bearing areas of the arm. Coma blisters are self-limited skin lesions that occur at sites of maximal pressure, mostly in the setting of drug overdose. However, coma blisters may occur with metabolic and neurological conditions resulting in coma.