Aspiration Pneumonia/Bronchitis

Swallowing is an organized bodily function that occurs in four phases and involves the fine coordination of 30 different pairs of nerves and muscles. Problems arise when there are structural and/or functional defects in this highly coordinated process. “Aspiration” refers to an inadvertent inhalation of oropharyngeal secretions/gastric contents below the level of the true vocal cords into the respiratory tract.