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Effect of a tracheostomy speaking valve on breathing–swallowing interaction

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Abstract

Purpose

Expiratory flow towards the upper airway after swallowing serves to expel liquid or food particles misdirected towards the trachea during swallowing. However, expiration may not occur consistently after swallowing in tracheostomised patients with an open tracheostomy tube. We investigated the effect of a speaking valve (SV) on breathing–swallowing interactions and on the volume expelled through the upper airway after swallowing.

Methods

Eight tracheostomised neuromuscular patients who were able to breathe spontaneously were studied with and without an SV. Breathing–swallowing interactions were investigated by chin electromyography, cervical piezoelectric sensor, and nasal and tracheal flow recording. Three water-bolus sizes (5, 10, and 15 mL) were tested in random order.

Results

Swallowing characteristics and breathing–swallowing synchronisation were not influenced by SV use. However, expiratory flow towards the upper airway after swallowing was negligible without the SV and was restored by adding the SV.

Conclusion

In tracheostomised patients, protective expiration towards the upper airway after swallowing is restored by the use of an SV.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by the Association d’Entraide des Polios et Handicapés (ADEP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, Services de Physiologie-Explorations Fonctionnelles, Réanimation Médicale, Centre d’Investigation Clinique et d’Innovation Technologique (INSERM Unit 805), APHP, 92380, Garches, France

    Hélène Prigent, Michèle Lejaille, Djillali Annane, Marjorie Figere, David Orlikowski & Frédéric Lofaso

  2. INSERM, ERI27, Service de Réanimation Médicale, CHRU Caen, 14000, Caen, France

    Nicolas Terzi

  3. INSERMU 955, Créteil, France

    Frédéric Lofaso

  4. EA 4497, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, 78035, Guyancourt, France

    Hélène Prigent, Michèle Lejaille, Marjorie Figere, David Orlikowski & Frédéric Lofaso

Authors
  1. Hélène Prigent
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  2. Michèle Lejaille
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  3. Nicolas Terzi
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  4. Djillali Annane
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  5. Marjorie Figere
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  6. David Orlikowski
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  7. Frédéric Lofaso
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frédéric Lofaso.

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Prigent, H., Lejaille, M., Terzi, N. et al. Effect of a tracheostomy speaking valve on breathing–swallowing interaction. Intensive Care Med 38, 85–90 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-011-2417-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-011-2417-8

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