Does the employed technique of endotracheal extubation reduce the risk of aspiration?

Aspiration of gastric contents continues to be one of the most serious complications of general anesthesia. Laryngeal competence may be reduced immediately following endotracheal extubation, which may increase the risk of aspiration. An evaluation research design was used in 20 adult canines to compare the techniques of positive pressure extubation and extubation at the height of inspiration employing radiopaque barium. Evaluation of radiographs from both groups revealed that no aspirate of barium was detected in the tracheobronchial trees of any of the dogs. This study establishes that there is no difference in the risk of aspiration following endotracheal extubation using the canine model regardless of the clinical technique employed.