Aspiration and acute lung injury.

Aspiration is a common clinical entity whose consequences range from the relatively benign to fulminant acute respiratory failure and death. Clinical situations in which airway protection is lost or compromised predispose patients to aspiration. Treatment of aspiration, while generally supportive, depends in part upon the material aspirated and the resulting clinical syndrome. When mechanical ventilatory support is required, the avoidance of iatrogenic complications, including worsening lung injury, becomes especially important. Preventative measures, either to minimize the chances of aspiration, or to reduce the potential for injury consequent to aspiration may be highly effective in reducing the incidence of aspiration syndromes.