Diagnosis of gastric aspiration by fiberoptic bronchoscopy.

At the time of bronchoscopic observation, 28 of 31 patients proved to have aspirated gastric contents by the presence of gastric contents in the trachea or by direct observation of gastric aspiration followed by respiratory distress and erythema of subsegmental bronchi. Since gastric aspiration is a difficult diagnosis to make and few objective data are available to make the diagnosis, the present study would indicate that early fiberoptic bronchoscopic observation of the tracheobronchial tree is a useful procedure to establish a definitive diagnosis and to allow proper planning for clinical management.