reaspiration

Reaspiration is a term that has no single, universally accepted definition and is used variably across disciplines. Broadly, it denotes the act of aspirating again after an initial event, with the precise meaning depending on the field and context.

In medicine, aspiration refers to the inhalation of material such as saliva, food, or gastric contents into the lower airways. Reaspiration may refer to repeated aspiration events, which can occur in patients with dysphagia, reduced consciousness, or during enteral feeding. Recurrent aspiration increases the risk of complications such as aspiration pneumonia and airway inflammation. Prevention and management emphasize reducing recurrence through swallowing assessments, upright feeding positions, texture-modified diets, vigilant oral care, and careful monitoring during feeding. In procedural settings, documentation of aspiration can occur during bronchoscopy or endotracheal suctioning, though the term reaspiration is not standardized in clinical practice.

In linguistics and phonetics, reaspiration has appeared in some discussions of aspiration phenomena, but it is not a widely adopted technical term. When used, it may describe a secondary or renewed period of glottal opening or breath release associated with an articulated segment or sequence, rather than a distinct phonemic category. The lack of a consistent definition means its usage is highly context-dependent and often limited to specific studies or theoretical frameworks.

Etymology derives from the Latin aspirare, meaning to breathe in, with the prefix re- indicating repetition. See also aspiration, aspiration pneumonia, dysphagia, and phonetics.