Pediatric emergency medicine trisk 2779 2779

FIGURE 99.1 A: Blood aspiration. A 3-year-old boy with tachypnea 1 day after surgery for
enlarged adenoids/tonsils. Chest film shows an infiltrate in the right upper lobe and left lower
lobe. B: The chest film 2 days later shows clearing of the infiltrate in the right upper lobe and
left lower lobe.

Management
In the acute care setting, children who aspirate require primarily supportive care.
Specifically, prevention of further aspiration by gastric decompression,
oropharyngeal suctioning, and proper positioning should be a goal. Supplemental
oxygen should be administered as needed.