MENDELSON SYNDROME

Course overview

THE STANDARD USE OF REGIONAL ANESTHESIA FOR MOST LABORING WOMEN AND INCREASED AWARENESS AMONG ANESTHESIA PROVIDERS REGARDING HIGH RISK OF ASPIRATION AND POTENTIAL DIFFICULT AIRWAY MANAGEMENT IN PARTURIENTS HAS INCREASED THE SAFETY IN THIS POPULATION. CARE HAS ALSO IMPROVED BY ADVANCES IN DIFFICULT AIRWAY MANAGEMENT DEVICES INCLUDING VIDEO LARYNGOSCOPES, ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE INTRODUCERS, OPTICAL STYLETS, AND FLEXIBLE ENDOSCOPES. THE ROUTINE UTILIZATION OF PULSE OXIMETRY, CAPNOGRAPHY, AND DIFFICULT AIRWAY ALGORITHMS HAVE ALSO HELPED TO MITIGATE THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH GENERAL ANESTHESIA IN PARTURIENTS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE CAUSE, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, AND PRESENTATION OF ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.