DETECTION OF PULMONARY ASPIRATION IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN WITH RESPIRATORY-DISEASE - CONCISE COMMUNICATION

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 21  (4) , 314-318
Abstract
Children (20) with respiratory disease ingested 500 .mu.Ci of Tc-99m sulfur coloid orally and scintigrams of the thorax were obtained to determine whether pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents was detectable. The children ranged in age from 1 mo.-14 yr; 13 were 8 mo. old or younger. Children were studied at 5 min and 4 h after ingestion of Tc-99m sulfur colloid using a high-sensitivity computer oscilloscope to record 100,000 count images. Additional images were obtained after the children had slept overnight. Children (5) (25%) showed definite pulmonary accumulation of activity; 4 of these had a Ba swallow and 3 showed pulmonary aspiration of Ba or moderately severe gastroesophageal reflux. Oral ingestion of Tc-99m sulfur colloid provides a noninvasive means for diagnosing pulmonary aspiration under physiologic conditions in infants and children.