[Perioperative Pulmonary Aspiration: Preface and Comments].

Since the risk of pulmonary aspiration was recognized in obstetric anesthesia in 1930's, numerous efforts have been made to reduce the incidence and severity of perioperative pulmonary aspiration: preoperative fasting, preoperative assessment of risk factors in perioperative pulmonary aspiration, emptying the stomach, rapid-sequence induction of anesthesia with cricoid pressure, and the use of a cuffed tracheal tube. With these efforts, the incidence of pulmonary aspiration has been reduced drastically, and aspiration is now rare. Nevertheless, recent large studies have shown that perioperative pulmonary aspiration is the main cause of anesthesia-related death or irreversible brain damage. In this special issue, experts summarize the current state of perioperative pulmonary aspiration, its diagnosis and treatment, risk factors of pulmonary aspiration, preoperative preventative methods, and appropriate anesthesia methods and airway management in patients at increased risk of pulmonary aspiration.