Overview
Non-Profit Prospective Observational Pilot Study
The study will have an overall duration of 3 years, with patient enrollment starting after ethical committee approval.
In this study, all patients with a diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia who require aspiration of secretions or ingesta in the Emergency Department will be considered. A registry will be created with the patients' data, noting the type of procedure performed: laryngotracheal aspiration with a probe or with fibrobronchoscopy.
This observational registry pilot study aims to evaluate the utility and adverse events related to the use of aspiration via videobronchoscopy performed in the Emergency Department and to compare the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing bronchoscopy with those treated only with blind laryngotracheal aspiration using a probe.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
All adult patients who access the Emergency Department with a diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia and for whom the referring physician determines the need for aspiration of secretions or ingesta. Patients must have at least one of the following criteria
- Radiological evidence of pneumonia (Chest X-ray/CT scan/Chest ultrasound)
- Clinical diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia
- Presence of secretions in the upper airways
- Respiratory distress in a dysphagic patient
- Need for oxygen therapy or need to increase FiO2 in patients already on home oxygen therapy
Exclusion Criteria:
- Lack of consent
- Age < 18 years
- Pregnancy
- Hemorrhagic diathesis
- Malignant cardiac arrhythmias (VT, AV block excluding first-degree AV block)
- Severe airway obstruction