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Subglottic Air Pressure and Swallowing

UPMC Swallowing Disorders Center and Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA

The existence of positive subglottic air pressure at the time of the swallow was first demonstrated in patients with indwelling tracheostomy tubes. Deglutitive subglottic air pressure has also been measured in non-tracheostomized persons. Several investigations that compared the occlusion status of tracheostomy tubes (open vs. closed) have found relationships between swallowing physiology and tube status. Similar findings were reported when healthy individuals swallowed at various lung volumes. As such, there is emerging evidence for the role of subglottic air pressure in swallowing motor control. Clinically, subglottic pressures in relation to breathing and swallowing coordination, pulmonary function, and lung-thoracic unit recoil forces may need to be considered when working with both tracheostomized and non-tracheostomized patients.