Swallow apnea--rhinomanometric manifestation and classification

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neurology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Swallow apnea is the cessation of respiration during the oropharyngeal phase of swallowing.
• Abnormalities in food transport or airway closure during this phase increase aspiration risk.
• Respiratory movements during swallowing can compromise the lower airway.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate and characterize swallow apnea and its disturbances using rhinomanometric tests.
• To identify patterns of abnormal swallowing and their association with aspiration.
• To evaluate the utility of rhinomanometry as a screening tool for pathological swallowing.

Main Methods:

• Utilized rhinomanometric tests to assess respiratory activity during swallowing.
• Conducted 639 examinations on 120 subjects.
• Analyzed responses for characteristic patterns indicative of swallow apnea and its disturbances.

Main Results:

• Identified three distinct response types and three subgroups in swallow apnea examinations.
• Thirty subjects experienced aspiration, with 11 cases being life-threatening.
• Combined factors like multiple swallows, prolonged transport, and abnormal movements indicated severe swallowing dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• Rhinomanometric testing is a reproducible method to demonstrate and evaluate swallow apnea.
• The identified patterns correlate with aspiration risk and severity.
• This method serves as an effective screening tool for pathological swallowing and treatment monitoring.