Anaesthesiologic Management of Patients at Risk of Pulmonary Aspiration: A Swiss Consensus Statement

Anaesthesiologic Management of Patients at Risk of Pulmonary Aspiration: A Swiss Consensus Statement | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Anaesthesiologic Management of Patients at Risk of Pulmonary Aspiration: A Swiss Consensus Statement Sascha Jan Baettig, Mark Georg Filipovic, Hagen Bomberg, Christoph Karl Hofer, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7991090/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 20 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in BMC Anesthesiology → Version 1 posted 12 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Introduction: The perioperative management of patients at risk of pulmonary aspiration varies widely, includes several controversial aspects, and is not regulated by official guidelines. The objective of this study was to achieve peer and expert consensus in the management of patients at risk of aspiration, thereby developing guidance in Switzerland. Controversial aspects to be clarified by expert consensus were previously identified by a broad national survey. Methods: A structured, three-phase national consensus process was conducted in Switzerland. First, the interprofessional SAFE Survey identified areas of agreement and controversy in the practice of perioperative management of patients at risk of pulmonary aspiration. Second, these recommendations were electronically reviewed, accepted, modified, or rejected by the heads of all anaesthesia departments accredited for postgraduate training in Switzerland. Third, the consolidated recommendations were presented to and formally endorsed by the Board of the Swiss Society of Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine (SSAPM). Results: A total of 42 out of 52 heads of anaesthesia departments contributed to the process, resulting in a response rate of 80.8%. Consensus was reached in 17 out of 21 statements (80.9%) that had been previously identified as controversial. Based on the collective consensus and these findings, a national recommendation for the management of patients at risk of pulmonary aspiration was developed. Discussion: The resulting national recommendations, endorsed by the official society of anaesthesiology in Switzerland, aim to standardize and improve care for this vulnerable patient group, providing a foundation for consistent clinical practice across Switzerland and other countries. Pulmonary aspiration RSI Rapid Sequence Induction Consensus patient safety Switzerland Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files STROBEchecklistASwissConsensusStatement.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 20 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in BMC Anesthesiology → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 20 Jan, 2026 Reviews received at journal 02 Jan, 2026 Reviews received at journal 31 Dec, 2025 Reviews received at journal 31 Dec, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 13 Dec, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 11 Dec, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 10 Dec, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 08 Dec, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 01 Dec, 2025 Editor invited by journal 11 Nov, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 10 Nov, 2025 First submitted to journal 10 Nov, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7991090","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":557798809,"identity":"fb74bb46-fa11-4cb8-8e9d-ccc610f0d485","order_by":0,"name":"Sascha Jan Baettig","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA7klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYJACZiBOALMSGGzgIsRoYWZsSGBII1ULA8Nhwlrk248//FxQw5DH395//MGDX+cT5/cfYPxcgEeLwZkcY+kZxxiKJc4cZmxI7LuduOHAAWbpGfi0MOSwMfOwMSQ23EgGaukBamFsAIrgc1j/82fMPP8YEufffwzSci5xfjMDfi0MNxLMmHnbGBI33ACF2I8DiQ3HCGgxuPHGWJq3T6LY8Eyy4YzEhmTjDWcYm6XxOyz94WeebzZ5cscPPvj444+d7Pz+wwc/43UYBEhAKMY2MNlAWAMC/CFF8SgYBaNgFIwUAACSR09gAULjkwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"University Hospital Zurich","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sascha","middleName":"Jan","lastName":"Baettig","suffix":""},{"id":557798810,"identity":"bbb548e5-65f5-4bf2-9c03-4277cb39cc70","order_by":1,"name":"Mark Georg Filipovic","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Inselspital, University of Bern","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mark","middleName":"Georg","lastName":"Filipovic","suffix":""},{"id":557798811,"identity":"fbedbae9-a1f1-4965-be6d-a4f3d5901b38","order_by":2,"name":"Hagen Bomberg","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University Hospital Balgrist","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hagen","middleName":"","lastName":"Bomberg","suffix":""},{"id":557798812,"identity":"7f27ecc8-0713-42bc-a654-2e91904674bd","order_by":3,"name":"Christoph Karl Hofer","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Schulthess-Klinik","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Christoph","middleName":"Karl","lastName":"Hofer","suffix":""},{"id":557798813,"identity":"4e6dc5eb-3126-443f-a14f-4e40ff85f35e","order_by":4,"name":"Michael Thomas Ganter","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Clinic Hirslanden Zurich","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Michael","middleName":"Thomas","lastName":"Ganter","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-10-30 15:53:16","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7991090/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7991090/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-026-03835-7","type":"published","date":"2026-04-20T15:57:39+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":97917054,"identity":"66c9eacd-a1e3-41c2-bd50-749598400303","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 17:46:33","extension":"tif","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":2423987,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Figure1SOPRiskassessment.tif","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/374013e16384d91b9b8c6421.tif"},{"id":98422033,"identity":"ce47a725-5c8e-4a9f-aa59-b129aea18961","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:30:19","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":3700959,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"ManuscriptSwissConsensusBMCAnaesthesiologyV1.3.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/675bb7d0d9467ff668969a36.docx"},{"id":97917046,"identity":"98864b96-0e6f-480f-9ecd-03eb7f99c189","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 17:46:33","extension":"tif","order_by":2,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":3887532,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Figure2RSIPractice.tif","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/9fb3dee0b9eada6cf8de47b9.tif"},{"id":97917040,"identity":"30ae33f0-ff76-4e67-84e6-8d2561cce08e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 17:46:33","extension":"docx","order_by":3,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":20937,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Table1SwissConsensusStatementV3.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/19f1952ea56cf339410110c6.docx"},{"id":98421561,"identity":"6b5e47c5-8303-4898-90a7-318c4fb5d5bb","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:28:27","extension":"tif","order_by":4,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":2614377,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Figure3ModifiedRSI.tif","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/b60d66d00d67dc6fa84f48ed.tif"},{"id":97917047,"identity":"c0a5e6e8-81db-4c2a-941d-6fe3e6100a25","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 17:46:33","extension":"tif","order_by":5,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":2363855,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Figure4ManagementAspiration.tif","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/a8e0320a1f6f483667487bc7.tif"},{"id":98422060,"identity":"04bc65a7-a02e-4db4-91ef-74296ae79833","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:30:23","extension":"json","order_by":6,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":8252,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"1af138b04aa842f49698360e478ea896.json","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/d405508f065b7905eac155eb.json"},{"id":98421335,"identity":"cef1ee15-449a-4097-8e93-4d953821f01e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:26:41","extension":"docx","order_by":7,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":34350,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"STROBEchecklistASwissConsensusStatement.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/d89003689661a0f5c8c75722.docx"},{"id":98421121,"identity":"49168c31-c711-4e7d-8d34-498cf34b809d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:23:55","extension":"xml","order_by":8,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":78162,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"1af138b04aa842f49698360e478ea8961enriched.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/2795f21470806c7c1d8fb6e4.xml"},{"id":98421540,"identity":"ae43ce12-75d0-4077-a49f-2ddde857c123","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:28:24","extension":"tif","order_by":9,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":2423987,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Figure1SOPRiskassessment.tif","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/23d19253c2b4ed626054e635.tif"},{"id":98421931,"identity":"e104bae8-9b9d-48b5-8ce6-2a65cb3f4f94","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:29:56","extension":"tif","order_by":10,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":3887532,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Figure2RSIPractice.tif","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/2f7395820f77cee877ad9397.tif"},{"id":98421724,"identity":"58041841-d623-4223-9634-3a679df4e83b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:29:06","extension":"tif","order_by":11,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":2614377,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Figure3ModifiedRSI.tif","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/432e085e4388f11e647b198e.tif"},{"id":97917061,"identity":"a3f7ca44-9f68-4650-bc87-742fc54fa681","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 17:46:33","extension":"tif","order_by":12,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":2363855,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Figure4ManagementAspiration.tif","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/aa723efe6ecfc3e807d87222.tif"},{"id":98422345,"identity":"1340cb8f-03a0-48cc-b4f1-71a62ffeb271","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:30:53","extension":"png","order_by":13,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":819183,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/3055b25d11ddd5b609ee8b54.png"},{"id":98421408,"identity":"399edf37-301a-443b-bd9f-743c323f4b36","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:27:10","extension":"png","order_by":14,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":1287696,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/de5923600186325d300e11eb.png"},{"id":98421297,"identity":"52dad446-a1b4-48ec-a6f8-30cdd3fd77b7","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:26:25","extension":"png","order_by":15,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":836102,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/e6440f1365c87e04ca90aaae.png"},{"id":97917052,"identity":"bcba5c79-28fe-4304-9ab6-e9a140c6d423","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 17:46:33","extension":"png","order_by":16,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":679867,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"floatimage4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/108f7639d0320f16a461ce57.png"},{"id":98421674,"identity":"bfd3b4c4-4466-4e47-ae97-67b6de674da8","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:28:56","extension":"png","order_by":17,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":227012,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"OnlineFigure1SOPRiskassessment.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/e230a65cafd48365adeb3b44.png"},{"id":98422356,"identity":"46fbb206-d79e-4284-be02-14470f12c836","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:30:54","extension":"png","order_by":18,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":371202,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"OnlineFigure2RSIPractice.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/fd9d3d38cc69654dd0859c5e.png"},{"id":98422040,"identity":"8ef0a823-0e88-49ae-b11b-a0ddf3cb9d1e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:30:21","extension":"png","order_by":19,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":231301,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"OnlineFigure3ModifiedRSI.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/62278099cffb4dfd32818bc1.png"},{"id":98421200,"identity":"dd13a6eb-a434-455d-9f8c-abd591e3066e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:24:59","extension":"png","order_by":20,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":179460,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"OnlineFigure4ManagementAspiration.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/bf674b92e8c1155c50730ac5.png"},{"id":97917049,"identity":"ce5bbbab-30b2-4843-9149-5080363aff0d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 17:46:33","extension":"png","order_by":21,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":227041,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/5028903b33a36ac5503e50bf.png"},{"id":97917063,"identity":"ae378100-d332-4ad9-9fa1-b5ba0c77b08a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 17:46:33","extension":"png","order_by":22,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":371231,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/87c839f6b1d7e38ecb95d9bf.png"},{"id":97917065,"identity":"b3c7a71f-1ad6-4d16-bd19-488188419a17","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 17:46:33","extension":"png","order_by":23,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":231330,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/5a01350e8bfcb40f4cd7c65a.png"},{"id":97917068,"identity":"5762a1f8-4c4c-4aeb-b069-f4529ebeacc0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 17:46:33","extension":"png","order_by":24,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":179489,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/802d45a8d467ef716f5940c5.png"},{"id":98422047,"identity":"2957bd99-6663-4ed2-b5bf-f6df0634b283","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-17 16:30:22","extension":"xml","order_by":25,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":74133,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"1af138b04aa842f49698360e478ea8961structuring.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/7ce0e1078cf5d1d1440808c0.xml"},{"id":97917057,"identity":"a553a344-8e19-4bd1-9ab7-fb1b4df5c701","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 17:46:33","extension":"html","order_by":26,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":84707,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"earlyproof.html","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/6edf46361ef01ed042d87943.html"},{"id":107927834,"identity":"09aaa82c-2a4e-4a3e-b70a-8dba3ebfc719","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-27 16:05:17","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1110190,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"ManuscriptSwissConsensusBMCAnaesthesiologyV1.3.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1_covered_8169cc5f-c773-40f4-80bb-682c2e80ebbf.pdf"},{"id":97917042,"identity":"3cf51eea-13ed-48fe-b63c-7219112e2ca6","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-10 17:46:33","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":34350,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"STROBEchecklistASwissConsensusStatement.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7991090/v1/16de08a7398e6677f57cfdb8.docx"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Anaesthesiologic Management of Patients at Risk of Pulmonary Aspiration: A Swiss Consensus Statement","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-anesthesiology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"bane","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Anesthesiology](http://bmcanesthesiol.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/bane","title":"BMC Anesthesiology","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Pulmonary aspiration, RSI, Rapid Sequence Induction, Consensus, patient safety, Switzerland","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7991090/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7991090/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIntroduction: \u003c/strong\u003eThe perioperative management of patients at risk of pulmonary aspiration varies widely, includes several controversial aspects, and is not regulated by official guidelines. The objective of this study was to achieve peer and expert consensus in the management of patients at risk of aspiration, thereby developing guidance in Switzerland. Controversial aspects to be clarified by expert consensus were previously identified by a broad national survey.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethods: \u003c/strong\u003eA structured, three-phase national consensus process was conducted in Switzerland. First, the interprofessional SAFE Survey identified areas of agreement and controversy in the practice of perioperative management of patients at risk of pulmonary aspiration. Second, these recommendations were electronically reviewed, accepted, modified, or rejected by the heads of all anaesthesia departments accredited for postgraduate training in Switzerland. Third, the consolidated recommendations were presented to and formally endorsed by the Board of the Swiss Society of Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine (SSAPM).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResults:\u003c/strong\u003e A total of 42 out of 52 heads of anaesthesia departments contributed to the process, resulting in a response rate of 80.8%. Consensus was reached in 17 out of 21 statements (80.9%) that had been previously identified as controversial. Based on the collective consensus and these findings, a national recommendation for the management of patients at risk of pulmonary aspiration was developed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiscussion:\u003c/strong\u003e The resulting national recommendations, endorsed by the official society of anaesthesiology in Switzerland, aim to standardize and improve care for this vulnerable patient group, providing a foundation for consistent clinical practice across Switzerland and other countries.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Anaesthesiologic Management of Patients at Risk of Pulmonary Aspiration: A Swiss Consensus Statement","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-12-10 17:46:28","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7991090/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-01-20T08:47:00+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-01-03T00:17:59+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-12-31T13:04:14+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-12-31T11:35:13+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"235229276578896964030802224490512699229","date":"2025-12-13T13:26:23+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"284198066114665380444668400490934614741","date":"2025-12-11T05:34:57+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"159684350149479496223246217772947262021","date":"2025-12-10T13:32:35+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-12-08T11:11:24+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-12-01T15:49:38+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-11-11T09:32:59+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-11-10T15:50:20+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Anesthesiology","date":"2025-11-10T15:46:55+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-anesthesiology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"bane","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Anesthesiology](http://bmcanesthesiol.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/bane","title":"BMC Anesthesiology","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"4380e3f9-5af7-44b0-95e3-5c8d61be9221","owner":[],"postedDate":"December 10th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-27T16:02:43+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-7991090","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-026-03835-7","journal":{"identity":"bmc-anesthesiology","isVorOnly":false,"title":"BMC Anesthesiology"},"publishedOn":"2026-04-20 15:57:39","publishedOnDateReadable":"April 20th, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-12-10 17:46:28","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s12871-026-03835-7","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-026-03835-7","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7991090","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7991090","identity":"rs-7991090","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}