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Case Reports
. 2015 Apr;28(2):183-4.
doi: 10.1080/08998280.2015.11929222.

Large-volume barium aspiration

Gregory L Hundemer  1 , Varun Kumar  1 , Muthiah Vaduganathan  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Large-volume barium aspiration

Gregory L Hundemer et al. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2015 Apr.

Abstract

We present a case of large-volume barium aspiration in a 56-year-old woman with stage IV tongue squamous cell carcinoma and longstanding dysphagia. The patient rapidly developed hypoxemic respiratory failure from the resultant chemical pneumonitis. However, her respiratory status improved with supportive care alone in 48 hours. Barium aspiration is rare and often produces dramatic radiographic findings, but is generally associated with a favorable prognosis.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Frontal chest radiograph (a) immediately after the barium aspiration event, showing large-volume high-density barium in the more dependent airways in the bilateral lower lungs (arrows) and (b) 48 hours after the event with supportive care in the intensive care unit, revealing considerable interval clearing of the aspirated contrast material.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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