- Impaired ability to protect airway
- Anatomic or functional predispositions (e.g. dysphagia, serve GERD)
- Sometimes associated w/altered consciousness (e.g. intoxication or other use of other substances that depress sensorium, advanced dementia)
- Swallowing impairment (dysphagia)
- Can be chronic/recurrent if underlying predisposing factor is persistent
- Can result in an inflammatory pneumonitis w/o infxn
- Can sometimes have a slow/indolent course (eg. w/lung abscess)
- Acute or recurrent sob, doe, cough, fever
- May have vital sign abnormalities if significant aspiration and/or compromised
- Can have altered level of consciousness, cognitive impairment
- May affect same lung area→ RML/RLL, based on body position at time of aspiration
- Can lead to lung abscess