Pulmonary aspiration only increases the risk of right-sided pneumonia in children: comparison of salivagrams and chest radiographs

Persistent Hiccups: An Unusual Presentation of Aspiration Pneumonia in the Elderly

Persistent hiccups manifesting as the sole symptom of aspiration pneumonia is a rare occurrence. Approximately 10 cases have been reported in the last 15 years. Hiccups are defined as persistent if it occurs beyond 48 hours and intractable if it occurs continuously for one month. We highlight a case of an elderly man diagnosed with a subacute ischemic infarct of the right occipital lobe with a preserved gag reflex and swallow reflex. The patient’s persistent hiccups began eight hours after an emetic episode. Typical signs of pneumonia were absent. Chest x-ray revealed bilateral lower lobe pulmonary infiltrates and he was treated aggressively with intravenous antibiotics and chlorpromazine. He made a full recovery and was discharged four days later.

Effect of nasogastric tube on salivagram result in paediatric patients

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyse the potential effect of indwelling nasogastric tubes (NGTs) on the positive rate of pulmonary aspiration in the salivagram of paediatric patients.

METHODS

This retrospective study evaluated 290 children suffering from respiratory tract infection with clinical suspicion of pulmonary aspiration (104 cases with NGT and 186 cases without NGT). Among them, 216 had good past health, while 74 had history of oropharyngeal diseases or brain injuries. Tc-DTPA salivagrams were performed to determine whether the risk of pulmonary aspiration was different between patients with and without NGT.

RESULTS

The positive rates of aspiration in salivagram were 32.3% (60/186) and 29.8% (31/104) in the patients without and with NGT, respectively. The positive rates of the two groups had not statistically significant difference [risk ratio (RR) = 0.924; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.644-1.326; P = 0.666]. Subgroup analyses showed that the patients with good past health had the positive rates of 24.4% (19/78) with NGT and 25.4 % (35/138) without NGT. The two groups had no statistically significant difference (RR = 0.960; 95% CI: 0.592-1.559; P = 0.870). For the patients with underlying diseases, the positive rates were 46.2% (12/26) with NGT and 52.1% (25/48) without NGT. These two groups also demonstrated no statistically significant difference (RR = 0.886; 95% CI: 0.540-1.455; P = 0.626).

CONCLUSION

The positive rate of pulmonary aspiration was relatively high in patients with respiratory tract infection who have underlying diseases but NGT feeding did not affect salivagram accuracy.

Quantification of the source, amount and duration of aspiration in the lungs of infants using gamma scintigraphy

BACKGROUND

Aspiration can cause acute symptoms and chronic lung disease in the developing lung. However, the source of aspiration in infants is often unclear, making the choice of intervention difficult.

OBJECTIVE

To quantify the source, amount and duration of lung aspiration in infants using gamma scintigraphy.

METHODS

Two infants with clinical evidence of gastroesophageal reflux and oropharyngeal dysphagia swallowed formula radiolabeled with ^99mtechnetium on Visit 1. Radiolabeled-formula was instilled by nasogastric tube on Visit 2. Lung aspiration was quantified over four hours and expressed as percent of total radioactivity administered.

RESULTS

Aspiration was greatest with swallowing, compared to instillation, peaking between 2.0% and 2.4% within 30 min and between 0.40% and 0.65% within 20 min, respectively. Radioactivity remained above zero four hours after either administration.

CONCLUSIONS

Quantification of the source, amount and duration of lung aspiration in infants is feasible using gamma scintigraphy. The impact of aspiration accrual on clinical care deserves further investigation.