Patient should be placed in the head-down position on the right side and should have also immediate tracheal suction to maintain a clear airway.
Correct hypoxia and support pulmonary function by assisted ventilation or positive-pressure oxygen.
Endotracheal intubation should be considered for patients who are unable to protect their airways.
The use of corticosteroids in the treatment of chemical pneumonitis is controversial. The administration of corticosteroids cannot be recommended in patients with ARDS.
The prophylactic use of antibiotics is not recommended. Empirical antibiotic therapy is appropriate for patients who aspirate gastric contents and who have small-bowel obstruction or other conditions associated with colonization of the gastric contents. Antibiotic therapy should be considered for patients with aspiration pneumonitis that fails to resolve within 48 hours following aspiration.
Empirical therapy with broad-spectrum agents is recommended; antibiotics with anaerobic activity are not routinely required.
