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Sudden Death in an Elderly Population from Aspiration of Food
Author(s) -
Gelperin Abraham
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1974.tb01527.x
Subject(s) - medicine , autopsy , aspiration pneumonia , population , intensive care medicine , cause of death , myocardial infarction , sudden death , pediatrics , pathology , pneumonia , environmental health , disease
During the year 1973, sudden death from food aspiration was identified in 3 patients of a geriatric hospital population. The correct diagnosis was made only at autopsy. As is usual under these circumstances, the clinical diagnosis had been myocardial infarction. This article emphasizes the importance of recognizing the possibility of food aspiration in these cases, as immediate bronchial aspiration or tracheostomy is the only life‐saving procedure.