Coordination between respiration and swallowing during non‐invasive positive pressure ventilation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the risk of silent aspiration is increased in non-invasive positive pressure ventilation. METHODS: We analysed the coordination between respiration and swallowing, in 12 young volunteers and 10 elder volunteers, by simultaneously monitoring respiratory flow, laryngeal movement and swallowing sound in three different conditions: control, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP). A step-wise multiple regression analysis was performed with the occurrence rate of inspiration after swallows as the dependent variable and various correlated variables as the independent variables. RESULTS: In both subject groups, the occurrence rate of inspiration after swallow was greater with BiPAP compared with control and CPAP conditions. Repetitive saliva swallowing test count and swallow non-inspiratory flow occurrence rate were extracted as predictor variables for risk of inspiration after swallows during BiPAP treatment. CONCLUSION: We found that the occurrence rate of inspiration after swallow is increased with BiPAP use irrespective of age. The results suggest that swallow non-inspiratory flow may trigger inspiratory support in the BiPAP mode, resulting in a risk of aspiration.