Stochastic electrical stimulation of the thoracic or cervical regions with surface electrodes facilitates swallow in rats.

Introduction: Aspiration pneumonia, a leading cause of mortality, poses an urgent challenge in contemporary society. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been commonly used in dysphagia rehabilitation. However, given that NMES at motor threshold targets only specific muscles, it carries a potential risk of further compromising functions related to swallowing, respiration, and airway protection.

Dysphagia as a Missing Link Between Post-surgical- and Opioid-Related Pneumonia.

Purpose: Postoperative pneumonia remains a common complication of surgery, despite increased attention. The purpose of our study was to determine the effects of routine surgery and post-surgical opioid administration on airway protection risk.

Methods: Eight healthy adult cats were evaluated to determine changes in airway protection status and for evidence of dysphagia in two experiments.

Serotonin therapies for opioid-induced disordered swallow and respiratory depression.

Opioids are well-known to cause respiratory depression, but despite clinical evidence of dysphagia, the effects of opioids on swallow excitability and motor pattern are unknown. We tested the effects of the clinically relevant opioid buprenorphine on pharyngeal swallow and respiratory drive in male and female rats. We also evaluated the utility of 5-HT agonists (8-OH-DPAT and buspirone) to improve swallowing and breathing following buprenorphine administration.

Serotonin therapies for opioid-induced dysphagia and respiratory depression: sex differences in a rat electromyography model.

Opioids are well-known to cause respiratory depression, but despite clinical evidence of dysphagia, the effects of opioids on swallow excitability and motor pattern are unknown. We sought to test the effects of the clinically-relevant opioid buprenorphine on pharyngeal swallow and respiratory drive in male and female rats. We also evaluated utility of serotonin 5-HT1A agonists (8-OH-DPAT and buspirone) to improve swallowing and breathing outcomes following buprenorphine administration.

Laryngeal and swallow dysregulation following acute cervical spinal cord injury.

Laryngeal function is vital to airway protection. Although swallow is mediated by the brainstem, the mechanism underlying the increased risk of dysphagia after cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) is unknown. We hypothesized that: ) loss of descending phrenic drive affects swallow and breathing differently, and ) loss of ascending spinal afferent information alters swallow regulation.

Rapid activation of esophageal mechanoreceptors alters the pharyngeal phase of swallow: Evidence for inspiratory activity during swallow.

Swallow is a complex behavior that consists of three coordinated phases: oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal. Esophageal distension (EDist) has been shown to elicit pharyngeal swallow, but the physiologic characteristics of EDist-induced pharyngeal swallow have not been specifically described. We examined the effect of rapid EDist on oropharyngeal swallow, with and without an oral water stimulus, in spontaneously breathing, sodium pentobarbital anesthetized cats (n = 5).