Final answer:
Pulmonary aspiration is the inhalation of foreign materials such as food, liquid, or vomit into the lungs, which can cause complications like pneumonia, especially in vulnerable groups like newborns with meconium aspiration syndrome.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pulmonary aspiration is a medical condition that occurs when a person inhales food, stomach acid, or saliva into their lungs. In serious cases, it can lead to conditions like pneumonia or even a lung abscess. When an individual is choking, the Heimlich maneuver may be necessary to force an aspirated object out of the respiratory tract, potentially saving someone from asphyxia, or suffocation. Newborns can experience a specific form of pulmonary aspiration known as meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). This happens when a newborn breathes a mixture of meconium (early stools) and amniotic fluid into the lungs around the time of delivery. MAS can lead to various complications, such as obstructed airways, alveolar collapse, interference with surfactant function, pulmonary inflammation, or pulmonary hypertension, increasing the risk of further infection.