Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) Placement in a Neonatal Patient Simulator Using a Non-Inflatable Supraglottic Airway (SGA)
04:56

Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) Placement in a Neonatal Patient Simulator Using a Non-Inflatable Supraglottic Airway (SGA)

Published on: July 14, 2023

Airway protection in sleeping infants in response to pharyngeal fluid stimulation in the supine position

M Page1, H E Jeffery

  • 1Department of Neonatal Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.

Pediatric Research
|November 6, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Healthy term and preterm infants effectively protect their airways using swallowing in response to pharyngeal fluid stimulation. Apnea did not increase, indicating robust airway defense mechanisms in both groups.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Upper airway protective mechanisms are crucial for infant safety.
  • Understanding these reflexes in both term and preterm infants is vital for clinical care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate upper airway reflexes in response to pharyngeal fluid stimulation.
  • To compare these responses in healthy term and preterm infants at term equivalent age.

Main Methods:

  • Five term and seven preterm infants were studied.
  • Pharyngeal fluid stimulation with varying volumes of saline and sterile water was performed during active and quiet sleep.
  • Cardiorespiratory function, sleep state, swallowing, and apnea were monitored.

Main Results:

  • Swallowing was the primary response to pharyngeal fluid stimulation in both term and preterm infants.
  • Swallowing frequency increased with fluid volume, particularly in term infants.
  • Preterm infants showed a significantly higher incidence of swallowing at a 0.2 mL volume compared to term infants.
  • No significant changes in apnea rates were observed in response to fluid stimulation.

Conclusions:

  • Healthy term and preterm infants maintain effective airway protection primarily through swallowing.
  • These findings suggest robust airway defense mechanisms in both infant groups, with swallowing playing a key role.
  • The study highlights swallowing as a primary protective reflex against pharyngeal fluid challenges.

More Related Videos

Minimally Invasive Murine Laryngoscopy for Close-Up Imaging of Laryngeal Motion During Breathing and Swallowing07:45

Minimally Invasive Murine Laryngoscopy for Close-Up Imaging of Laryngeal Motion During Breathing and Swallowing

Published on: December 1, 2023

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System06:19

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System

Published on: April 19, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Breathing01:05

Breathing

The process of breathing, inhaling and exhaling, involves the coordinated movement of the chest wall, the lungs, and the muscles that move them. Two muscle groups with important roles in breathing are the diaphragm, located directly below the lungs, and the intercostal muscles, which lie between the ribs. When the diaphragm contracts, it moves downward, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity and creating more room for the lungs to expand. When the intercostal muscles contract, the ribs...
Suctioning the Nasopharyngeal Airway01:29

Suctioning the Nasopharyngeal Airway

Nasopharyngeal suctioning is a procedure to remove secretions from the upper part of the respiratory tract that the patient cannot clear independently. It helps maintain airway patency and prevents complications such as aspiration pneumonia.
Equipment Required
Endotracheal Tube Extubation01:24

Endotracheal Tube Extubation

Endotracheal tube extubation is a critical procedure in weaning patients from mechanical ventilation. It involves physically removing the oral or nasal endotracheal (ET) tube, marking the final step in liberating a patient from ventilatory support.
Procedure
Extubation removes the endotracheal tube (ETT) from the patient on mechanical ventilation. It requires a well-coordinated, multidisciplinary approach involving physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare professionals.
Suctioning the Oropharyngeal Airway01:25

Suctioning the Oropharyngeal Airway

In preparing for oropharyngeal airway suctioning, a nurse must gather all necessary equipment, including a suction unit with tubing, a prepackaged suction kit, sterile gloves, water or saline for irrigation, a water-soluble lubricant, and additional personal protective equipment (such as a gown, mask, and goggles) to control infections.
After assembling the equipment, the nurse should practice hand hygiene and don appropriate PPE according to infection control guidelines to avoid the...
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management01:22

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management

Airway management is a key skill in emergency and critical care settings, as maintaining a clear airway is essential for adequate oxygenation and ventilation.Head Tilt-Chin Lift TechniqueThe head tilt-chin lift maneuver is an essential technique primarily used in patients without suspected cervical spine injuries. To perform this maneuver, one hand is placed on the patient’s forehead, and gentle pressure is applied backward to tilt the head. The fingertips of the other hand are positioned under...
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques01:30

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques

Airway management is essential in emergency and surgical medicine, ensuring ventilation and oxygenation in patients who cannot maintain their own airway. Clinicians use a range of techniques and devices to secure the airway, depending on the patient’s condition and the clinical context. Key methods include endotracheal intubation, rapid sequence intubation (RSI), supraglottic airway devices, and advanced visualization aids. In cases where these approaches fail, surgical airway interventions are...