Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026
MRI Mapping of Cerebrovascular Reactivity via Gas Inhalation Challenges
Published on: December 17, 2014
Assessment of aspiration risk in stroke patients with quantification of voluntary cough
C A Smith Hammond1, L B Goldstein, D J Zajac
1Duke University and Durham Veterans Affairs Medical, Durham, NC, USA. smith390@mc.duke.edu
Background:
Dysphagia and subsequent aspiration are serious complications of acute stroke that may be related to an impaired cough reflex. It was hypothesized that aspirating stroke patients would have impaired objective measures of voluntary cough as compared with both nonstroke control subjects and nonaspirating stroke patients.
Methods:
Swallowing was evaluated by standard radiologic or endoscopic methods, and stroke patients were grouped by aspiration severity (severe, n = 11; mild, n = 17; no aspiration, n = 15). Airflow patterns and sound pressure level (SPL) of voluntary cough were measured in stroke patients and in a group of normal control subjects (n = 18). Initial stroke severity was determined retrospectively with the Canadian Neurological Scale.
Results:
All cough measures were altered in stroke patients as a group relative to nonstroke control subjects. Univariate analysis showed that peak flow of the inspiration phase (770.6 +/- 80.6 versus 1,120.1 +/- 148.4 mL/s), SPL (90.0 +/- 3.1 versus 100.2 +/- 1.6 dB), peak flow of the expulsive phase (875.1 +/- 122.7 versus 1,884.1 +/- 221.6 mL/s), expulsive phase rise time (0.34 +/- 0.1 versus 0.09 +/- 0.01 s), and cough volume acceleration (5.5 +/- 1.3 versus 27.8 +/- 3.9 mL/s/s) were significantly impaired in severe aspirators as compared with nonaspirators. Aspirating patients had more severe strokes than nonaspirators (mean Canadian Neurological Scale score 7.7 +/- 0.7 versus 9.8 +/- 0.3). Multivariate logistic regression found only expulsive phase rise time values during cough correlated with aspiration status.
Conclusion:
Objective analysis of cough may provide a noninvasive way to identify the aspiration risk of stroke patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Assessment of Ventilation I: Respiratory Rate
A Ventilation assessment is critical for monitoring a patient's health status. Respiration, one of the most accessible vital signs, provides insights into the function of numerous body systems and can indicate serious health issues, such as brainstem injuries from head trauma.
Critical Guidelines for Assessing Ventilation:
01:23Assessment of Respiration
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD,...
01:19Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications
Objectives and Importance:
The primary goal of respiratory assessment is to evaluate patients at early risk of clinical deterioration. Since respiratory distress often precedes other signs of declining health, breathing patterns and sounds become a...
01:30Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:22Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management