Aspiration Risk Factors in Hospitalized Patients Following Trauma

INTRODUCTION: Risk factors for aspiration are not well characterized in the trauma patient population. Improved understanding is important due to features of this patient population that place them at high risk for morbidity and mortality with aspiration. METHODS: In a retrospective analysis of patients who suffered a traumatic injury from 2016 to 2018, potential risk factors were recorded and analyzed with logistic regression to evaluate the trauma patient at risk for aspiration. RESULTS: Of the 146 patient charts analyzed, 56 (38%) had at least one documented aspiration event, while 90 (62%) patients had none. Multivariate logistic regression found a significant association between impaired consciousness and aspiration events (p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: This study was a novel characterization of trauma patients likely to have experienced an aspiration event while hospitalized. The results suggested candidate risk factors for aspiration exist in a trauma-specific population. Impaired consciousness is likely to show a significant association with aspiration in trauma patients in future studies.