Question

Case Study 2 Sammy, age 3 years, ate his dinner and then said his tummy hurt. His mother suggested he lie down in the adjacent room while his parents finished dinner. A few minutes later, they heard Sammy vomiting. His mother rushed in to lift Sammy up. When vomiting ceased, they noticed Sammy continued to cough and seemed to be choking. He was struggling to breathe and a wheezing sound was obvious. It appeared that he had aspirated some vomitus. His parents drove him to a nearby hospital for examination. Discussion Questions 1. Discuss the specific effects of aspirating vomitus on Sammy, including the probable effects on his bronchi and lungs. Why might one lung be affected more than the other? 2. Discuss the pathophysiologic changes causing the signs and symptoms and any tests required to clarify the effects on Sammy. 3. Suggest some reasons for Sammy's difficulty breathing and wheezing. 4. Discuss the potential complications of aspiration of vomitus.

Answer 1

1, when vomiting a small amount, if vomit inter into the trachea and into the lungs it produces cough reflex that make lung damage and increase the risk of aspiration that leads to aspiration pneumonia and asphyxiation. right middle-lower lung lobes are the most common sites affected due to the large caliber and vertical base of the right mainstem bronchus.
2, After dinner stomach content if it not digested or due to some other digestive disorder it goes into lngs it causes wheezing and breathing trouble.
X-ray, sputum culture, bronchoscopy, CT scan help to find the complications.
3, When food content enter into the lungs it blocks the airway and causes wheezing and trouble breathing.
4, Potential complications include aspiration pneumonia, pulmonary edema, etc.