Faculty Collaboration Database

Airway protective mechanisms: current concepts. Dysphagia 1995;10(4):216-27

Date

01/01/1995

Pubmed ID

7493501

DOI

10.1007/BF00431413

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0028791829 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   57 Citations

Abstract

There are at least eight mechanisms identified that result either in volume clearance of the pharynx and esophagus (secondary peristalsis and pharyngeal swallow) or prevent entry of the gastric content into the esophagus and pharynx (LES and UES), accentuate these barriers (esophago-UES and pharyngo-UES contractile reflexes), or induce closure of the vocal cords and introitus to the trachea (esophagoglottal and pharyngoglottal reflexes). The sum effect of various combinations of these mechanisms is suggested to help prevent retrograde aspiration. In other words, airway protective mechanisms against retrograde aspiration are multifactorial and involve delicate interaction between upper GI and upper airway tracts. Although the existence of these mechanisms in normal volunteers has been documented, their function in patients with retrograde aspiration and supraesophageal complications of gastroesophageal reflux disease currently awaits investigation.

Author List

Shaker R

Author

Reza Shaker MD Assoc Provost, Sr Assoc Dean, Ctr Dir, Chief, Prof in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Airway Obstruction
Asthma
Deglutition
Esophageal Motility Disorders
Esophagogastric Junction
Gastroesophageal Reflux
Humans
Larynx
Lung Diseases
Muscle Contraction
Peristalsis
Reflex