[Inhalation pneumonia in toxic comas. Apropos of 200 cases with 4 deaths]

In 1946, Mendelson described 66 cases of gastric juice inhalation during obstetrical work with no mortality. Other studies studying different populations (essentially in post-operative condition) denounced a mortality from 19 to 64%. In Forensic Medicine, a bronchial regurgitation of gastric juice is denounced in 1/3 lethal toxic comas. This regurgitation can be the direct cause of the death, it also can be an epiphenomena, as suggests the high level of inhalation in agonic process of any cause: 1/4 of autopsy findings. In our department, 200 cases of inhalation pneumonia, during comatose intoxications have been registered between 1972-1982, with a frequency of 1/28 patients. All the patients were under assisted ventilation. 4 deaths occurred in this serie. This 2% mortality suggests the curability of gastric juice inhalation during comatose intoxications in not specifically respiratory-orientated intensive Care Units. These relatively good results are probably party related to the patients' recruitment: young population without underlying organic disease, with a rapid turnover and little hazards of nosocomial superinfections.