Prevention of bronchopulmonary aspiration in digestive surgery: the impact of training healthcare professionals.

BACKGROUND

Bronchopulmonary aspiration occurs when food or fluids enter the lower airways, potentially causing hypoxia, aspiration pneumonia, and even death. Prevention requires early identification of risks and action by a multidisciplinary team. Continuous team education, using well established protocols, is essential to reinforce preventive measures and improve healthcare.

AIMS: Based on the well-established protocols, evaluate the impact of training on professional learning and the incidence of bronchopulmonary aspiration.

METHODS

A prospective, blinded, time-allocated, quasi-experimental study conducted in the gastrointestinal surgery ward and intensive care unit. The study was divided into three phases: patient assessment, multidisciplinary training based on the well-established protocols, and patient reassessment regarding risks, bronchopulmonary aspiration, and outcomes.

RESULTS

The study included 600 of the 710 patients evaluated, distributed in two phases: Phase 1 (n=267) and Phase 3 (n=333). Sixty-six professionals participated in Phase 2. The impact of training on bronchopulmonary aspiration was assessed through pre- and post-training assessments. The score increased significantly (pre-test: 75.06±13.36; post-test: 93.58±5.63; p<0.0001). In Phase 1, 32 patients presented with bronchopulmonary aspiration; in Phase 3, this number was 20, a significant difference (p=0.0097).

CONCLUSIONS

Training proved effective in preventing bronchopulmonary aspiration and improving clinical outcomes, with a positive impact at all levels of the protocol employed. The results reinforce continuing education as a strategy for patient safety and risk management, suggesting its application in other healthcare settings.