Consequences of pulmonary aspiration can be biphasic with dissimilar sequelae. An early phase, coined pneumonitis, involves an inflammatory reaction to gastrointestinal contents with a pH typically less than 2.4 resulting in rapid clinical deterioration and recovery typically within 48 hours. Controversy in distinguishing pneumonia from pneumonitis in an effort to safely discontinue antibiotics may still remain as TPC is not routinely available in the United States.

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