Chronic Aspiration Pneumonia Research Articles

Pulmonary complications of chronic neuromuscular diseases and their management.

Chronic neuromuscular diseases may affect all major respiratory muscles groups including inspiratory, expiratory, and bulbar, and respiratory complications are the major cause of morbidity and mortality. Untreated, many of these diseases lead inexorably to hypercapnic respiratory failure, precipitated in some cases by chronic aspiration and secretion retention or pneumonia, related to impairment of cough and swallowing mechanisms. Many measures are helpful including inhibition of salivation, cough-assist techniques, devices to enhance communication, and physical therapy. In addition, ventilatory assistance is an important part of disease management for patients with advanced neuromuscular disease. Because of its comfort, convenience, and portability advantages, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) has become the modality of first choice for most patients. Patients to receive NPPV should be selected using consensus guidelines, and initiation should be gradual to maximize the chances for success. Attention should be paid to individual preferences for interfaces and early identification of cough impairment that necessitates the use of cough-assist devices. For patients considered unsuitable for noninvasive ventilation, invasive mechanical ventilation should be considered, but only after a frank but compassionate discussion between the patient, family, physician, and other caregivers.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: an enduring challenge.

1. Yvonne E. Vaucher, MD, MPH* 1. *Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of California, San Diego, Calif. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the most common cause of chronic lung disease during infancy. 2. Explain the importance of a history of bronchopulmonary dysplasia throughout childhood. 3. Identify infants at high risk for developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia. 4. List the adverse effects associated with postnatal corticosteroids. Despite clinical advances in antepartum, intrapartum, and neonatal care, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) continues to challenge infants who have been in neonatal intensive care units and their caretakers. BPD is the most common cause of chronic respiratory disease during infancy and remains a major cause of long-term medical, pulmonary, and neurodevelopmental morbidity, increasing the cost of health care and the utilization of medical and educational resources throughout childhood. BPD is a clinical diagnosis, defined by oxygen dependence for a specific period of time after birth and accompanied by characteristic radiographic findings that correspond to anatomic abnormalities. Thus far, a precise physiologic definition of BPD is lacking. As the clinical presentation has evolved over the past 30 years, so has the definition. As originally described by Northway in the 1960s, the diagnosis of classic BPD was based on progressive radiographic changes in preterm infants who were treated for severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) immediately after birth and had prolonged ventilator and oxygen dependence. This form of BPD occurred in larger, relatively mature preterm infants, who required treatment with high-pressure mechanical ventilation and high concentrations of oxygen. Although the acute respiratory disease initially improved in these infants, oxygen requirements increased 7 to 10 days after birth and persisted for at least 28 days. The definition of BPD subsequently was modified by Bancalari to include preterm infants who had less severe RDS that initially required short-term mechanical ventilation, but who also developed persistent respiratory symptoms and an oxygen requirement for at least 28 days after birth …

Oxigenoterapia domiciliar em crianças: relato de sete anos de experiência

Objetivo: Descrever os resultados de uma experiência de sete anos com uso de oxigenoterapia domiciliar em crianças com hipoxemia decorrente de doença pulmonar crônica. Pacientes e métodos: É um estudo retrospectivo e descritivo realizado no Hospital de Crianças Santo Antonio, de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, na região Sul do Brasil. No geral, avaliaram-se as características das crianças com oxigenoterapia domiciliar acompanhadas durante o período de janeiro de 1993 a janeiro de 2000. Resultados: Dos 40 pacientes estudados, 29 (72,5%) eram meninos. A idade de início do oxigênio no domicílio variou de dois meses a 13 anos e seis meses, sendo que 18 (45%) eram menores de um ano (média: 24,8 meses; mediana: 13 meses). As enfermidades mais prevalentes foram: bronquiolite obliterante, 31 (77,5%); pneumopatia obstrutiva crônica secundária à aspiração, três; hipogamaglobulinemia, dois; pneumopatia supurativa crônica, dois; proteinose alveolar e tuberculose, um caso cada. O tempo da última internação antes de iniciar oxigênio domiciliar variou de nove a 240 dias (média: 64 dias; mediana 50 dias). A maioria dos pacientes recebeu oxigênio por aparelho concentrador, 30 (75%), e os demais, por cilindro. O tempo de uso variou de 27 a 1.620 dias, mediana de 392,5 dias. Ocorreram cinco óbitos por complicações da doença de base e um por retirada acidental da traqueostomia. Dos 19 pacientes em que o oxigênio foi suspenso, o diagnóstico era bronquiolite obliterante em 15, pneumonia aspirativa em dois e tuberculose e proteinose alveolar um caso cada. Conclusão: Apesar da necessidade de oxigênio por períodos prolongados, a evolução foi satisfatória na maioria das crianças. Oxigênio domiciliar para crianças oxigenodependentes é uma alternativa de tratamento que permite antecipar a alta hospitalar e o retorno ao ambiente familiar.

Signal Transduction Pathways in Esophageal and Lower Esophageal Sphincter Circular Muscle

Esophageal reflux is a common condition that affects children and 1 in 10 adults, and if untreated may result in chronic esophagitis, aspiration pneumonia, esophageal strictures, and Barrett’s esophagus, a premalignant condition. Although esophagitis is a multifactorial disease that may depend on transient lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation, speed of esophageal clearance, mucosal resistance, and other factors, impairment of LES pressure is a common finding in patients complaining of chronic heartburn. Our data suggest that esophageal and LES circular muscle utilize distinct Ca 2+ sources, phospholipid pools, and signal transduction pathways to contract in response to acetylcholine (ACh): (1) In esophageal muscle ACh-induced contraction requires influx of extracellular Ca 2+ and may be linked to phosphatidylcholine metabolism, production of diacylglycerol (DAG) and arachidonic acid, and activation of a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent pathway. (2) In LES muscle ACh-induced contraction utilizes intracellular Ca 2+ release arising from metabolism of phosphatidylinositol (PI), and a calmodulin-myosin light chain kinase-dependent pathway. Resting LES tone, on the other hand, may be due to relatively low basal PI hydrolysis resulting in submaximal levels of inositol triphosphate (IP 3)-induced calcium release and interaction with DAG to activate PKC. (3) After induction of experimental esophagitis, basal levels of PI hydrolysis and intracellular calcium stores are substantially reduced, resulting in a reduction of resting tone. In addition the signal transduction pathway responsible for LES contraction in response to ACh changes from one that depends on IP 3 production, calcium release, and calmodulin activation to one that relies on influx of extracellular calcium and activation of PKC.

Isolation of non-sporing anaerobic rods from infections in children.

From 1974 to 1994, 2033 microbiological specimens from children were submitted for cultures for anaerobic bacteria. Fifty-seven isolates of Bifidobacterium spp. were obtained from 55 (3%) children, 67 isolates of Eubacterium spp. from 65 (3%) children and 41 isolates of Lactobacillus spp. from 40 (2%) children. Most Bifidobacterium isolates were from chronic otitis media, abscesses, peritonitis, aspiration pneumonia and paronychia. Most Eubacterium isolates were from abscesses, peritonitis, decubitus ulcers and bites. Lactobacillus spp. were mainly isolated from abscesses, aspiration pneumonia, bacteraemia and conjunctivitis. Most (> 90%) infections from which these species were isolated were polymicrobial and yielded a mixture of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The organisms most commonly isolated with the non-sporing anaerobic gram-positive rods were Peptostreptococcus spp., Bacteroides spp., pigmented Prevotella and Porphyromonas spp., Fusobacterium spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Most Bacteroides spp. and E. coli were isolated from intra-abdominal infection and skin and soft tissue infection around the rectal area, whereas most Prevotella, Porphyromonas and Fusobacterium isolates were from oropharyngeal, pulmonary and head and neck sites. The predisposing conditions associated with the isolation of non-sporing anaerobic gram-positive rods were previous surgery, malignancy, steroid therapy and immunodeficiency. Antimicrobial therapy was given to 149 (83%) of the 160 patients, in conjunction with surgical drainage or correction of pathology in 89 (56%).

上部消化管運動機能の障害 えん下性肺炎

Aspiration pneumonia is caused by materials inhaled into the lower respiratory tract, such as gastric juice or food particles. In adults, most of the patients have a swallowing disturbance such as bulbar palsy or a consciousness disturbance as well as a reduced cough reflex.Acute aspiration pneumonia caused by gastric juice is sometimes referred to as the“Mendelson syndrome”, which is a chemical injury to the broncho-alveolar epithelium and vascular endothelium. Food particles from the oral cavity or stomach, which are usually contaminated with resident bacteria from the oral cavity or pharynx, subsequently cause bacterial infections and sometimes even lung abscesses. One kind of chronic aspiration pneumonia which is similar to diffuse pan-bronchiolitis (DPB), is called diffuse aspiration bronchiolitis (DAB), is due to continuous small amount of aspiration.It is important to diagnose aspiration pneumonia immediately and to start its treatment at an early stage.

Mycobacterium fortuitum Pulmonary Infection Complicating Achalasia

Achalasia is a cause of chronic aspiration pneumonia that may be complicated by pulmonary infection with Mycobacterium fortuitum. In any patient with achalasia, the presence of a pulmonary infiltrate that does not respond to routine antibiotic therapy should suggest the possibility of M fortuitum pulmonary infection, and sputum should be cultured for these organisms.

Surgical Correction of a Persistent Right Aortic Arch in a Foal

A persistent right fourth aortic arch causing esophageal stenosis was diagnosed in a foal. Presenting signs included cervical swelling that developed following introduction to solid feed at weaning, and symptoms of chronic aspiration pneumonia. The esophagus was distended at the thoracic inlet; neither an endoscope nor a small nasogastric tube could be passed through the strictured esophagus at the heart base. The esophagus was seen to be dilated to the level of the heart base on plain and contrast radiographs. A left lateral thoracotomy through the fifth intercostal space was used to gain access for surgical correction of the defect. Radiographic and clinical evaluation of the foal 2 and 6 months following surgery showed a gradual decrease in size of the esophageal dilatation and an enlargement in the functional diameter of the esophagus at the previously strictured area at the heart base. Ten months following surgery the colt was eating normally and was of normal height and weight.

FURTHER EXPERIENCES WITH THE ARYTENOID-EPIGLOTTIC FLAP FOR CHRONIC ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA

We present our experiences with 7 patients in whom we did arytenoid-epiglottic flaps for the treatment of chronic aspiration pneumonia. The indications for the operation are outlined, and some technical suggestions are made.

AN ELUSIVE AND OFTEN UNSUSPECTED CAUSE OF STRIDOR OR PNEUMONIA (THE ESOPHAGEAL FOREIGN BODY)

Children with esophageal foreign bodies may present with a variety of respiratory symptoms and few, if any, symptoms of esophageal obstruction.Awareness of this presentation by the clinician and radiologist should lead to early diagnosis. This is most important, for if the diagnosis is not secured at an early stage, complications such as esophageal ulceration, esophageal perforation, chronic aspiration pneumonia, and failure to thrive can develop.Early roentgenographic examination of the neck (lateral view with extension and inspiration) and chest is essential and usually all that is needed for the diagnosis.Barium swallow examination may be required in some cases, but potentially hazardous diagnostic procedures such as tracheoscopy and bronchoscopy should be avoided.