Prophylaxis Against Acid Aspiration Syndrome Clinical and Experimental study

the syndrome of acid aspiration IS considered a dangerouscondition which produces morbid complications or even mortality, thissyndrome is responsible for a high percentage of anaesthetic relatedmatemal deaths, it was firstly discovered by Mendelson at 1946.It seems that the pH of the gastric contents is the most hazardousfactor over the volume aspirated as aspiration of 2 ml/kg of pH over 1.8produces less mortality rate while aspiration of a volume less than 0.4ml/kg with pH less than l.0 is considered lethal condition.Inhalation of gastric contents may cause death from asphyxia,while inhalation of a quite small volume may lead to atypical form ofrespiratory distress which may become apparent after 6 - 8 hours.