Catatonia, gastric hyperacidity, and fatal aspiration: a preventable syndrome

Sudden death from aspiration pneumonitis during acute catatonia is a generally recognized but poorly understood occurrence. The author describes a case in which a schizophrenic patient died following aspiration of gastric contents. In view of findings that suggest that the acidity of gastric contents is related to morbidity following aspiration, he recommends that liquid antacid medication be given routinely to catatonic patients.