Deep Inspiration-Provoked Cough: A Sign of Cough Reflex Arc Hypersensitivity

Recent advances in cough research suggest a more widespread use of cough-provocation tests to demonstrate the hypersensitivity of the cough reflex arc. Cough-provocation tests with capsaicin or acidic aerosols have been used for decades in scientific studies. Several factors have hindered their use in everyday clinical work: i.e. lack of standardisation, the need for special equipment and the limited clinical importance of the response. Cough-provocation tests with hypertonic aerosols (CPTHAs) involve provocations with hypertonic saline, hypertonic histamine, mannitol and hyperpnoea. They probably act via different mechanisms than capsaicin and acidic aerosols. They are safe and well tolerated and the response is repeatable. CPTHAs can assess not only the sensitivity of the cough reflex arc but also the tendency of the airway smooth muscles to constrict (airway hyper-responsiveness). They can differentiate between subjects with asthma or chronic cough and healthy subjects. The responsiveness to CPTHAs correlates with the cough-related quality of life among asthmatic subjects. Furthermore, the responsiveness to them decreases during treatment of chronic cough. A severe response to CPTHAs may indicate poor long-term prognosis in chronic cough. The mannitol test has been stringently standardised, is easy to administer with simple equipment, and has regulatory approval for the assessment of airway hyper-responsiveness. Manual counting of coughs during a mannitol challenge would allow the measurement of the function of the cough reflex arc as a part of clinical routine.

Coughing is an important defensive reflex that occurs through the stimulation of a complex reflex arc. It accounts for a significant number of consultations both at the level of general practitioner and of respiratory specialists. In this review we first analyze the cough reflex under normal conditions; then we analyze the anatomy and the neuro-pathophysiology of the cough reflex arc. The aim of this review is to provide the anatomic and pathophysiologic elements of evaluation of the complex and multiple etiologies of cough.

Objective: The aim of this study to determine the therapeutic effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) on pharyngeal phase of swallowing for stroke patients with neurogenic dysphagia,and to see the effect of NMES in reducing the incidence of standing secretion, residue, penetration and aspiration.Methods: It is a quasi-­experimental study design. 10 stroke patients with neurogenic dysphagia in Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital, Jakarta, 40-­80 years old with hemodynamically stable, cooperative and will be get NMES therapy for 4 weeks. Pre and Post treatment assessment caompared using a modified MASA test (The Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability) and FEES examination (Flexible Endoscophic Evaluation of Swallowing). Analysis of change scores using Wilcoxon test.Results:The obtain average age of patients 59.80+9.705 years. Significant difference seen in the pharyngeal phase of swallowing increased score of gag reflex, velum elevation, cough reflex, voluntary cough, voice quality, pharynx response, pharyngeal constrictor contraction and vocal cord adduction (p<0.005).Also seen significant reduction in the incidence of standing secretion, residue and penetration (p<0.005), but not significantly in the incidence of aspiration (p=0083).Conclusions: NMES increased the pharyngeal phase of swallowing, reduced the incidence of standing secretion, residue and penetration of stroke patients with neurogenic dysphagia, but have not able to reduced aspiration.Keywords :Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NEMS), neurogenic dysphagia, MASA test (The Mann Assessment of Swallow ing Ability), FEES examination (Flexible Endoscophic Evaluation of Swallowing), swallowing process.