[Aspiration syndrome: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and therapy].

Aspiration syndromes are important causes of morbidity and mortality during general anaesthesia as well as in the intensive care unit. Up to 30% of patients with aspiration may develop an acute respiratory distress syndrome, with an attributed mortality of 16%. Although aspiration syndrome is not a frequent event, the anaesthesist must be familiar with the management of this complication and must know the risk factors for it. Discrimination between pneumonitis, an abacterial inflammation, and pneumonia is of utmost importance because treatment strategies differ; for instance, treatment is merely supportive in pneumonitis. This review gives an overview of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of aspiration syndrome, strategies to avoid aspiration, and a brief discussion of treatment concepts.