We investigated the effects of increasing CO2 ventilatory drive on the coordination of respiration and reflex swallowing elicited by continuous infusion of distilled water into the pharynx (2.5 ml/min) in 11 normal subjects. Ventilation was monitored using a pneumotachograph and swallowing was recorded by submental electromyogram. The CO2 ventilatory drive was increased by addition of external dead space, while ventilation, the frequency of swallows, and the timing of swallows in relation to the phases of the respiratory cycle were measured at steady-state conditions. We found that the CO2 ventilatory response is not influenced by continuous reflex swallowing but that hypercapnia influences the timing and frequency of these swallows. Signs of aspiration were never observed during continuous infusion of water at eucapnia, but seven of 11 subjects showed laryngeal irritation and/or pending aspiration during hypercapnia, and the incidence of laryngeal irritation was higher the greater the PCO2. Detailed analysis of laryngeal irritations consisting of single coughs in seven subjects revealed that the majority of laryngeal irritations occurred when swallows coincided with expiratory-inspiratory transition or when swallows coincided with inspiration, whereas laryngeal irritation after an expiratory swallow was never observed. These results suggest that the automatic respiratory control system is not influenced by continuous swallowing but that the coordination of swallowing and respiration may be compromised during hypercapnia.

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We have examined the sensitivity of the geniohyoid, an upper airway dilating muscle, to vecuronium in 12 anaesthetized dogs undergoing mechanical ventilation of the lungs and compared it with that of the diaphragm. Dogs were allocated randomly to two groups: pentobarbitone alone (group 1, n = 7); pentobarbitone combined with 0.2 MAC (0.44%) of enflurane anaesthesia (group 2, n = 5). Supramaximal single twitch stimulations (0.1 Hz) were applied to the phrenic nerves in the upper thorax and the geniohyoid branches of the hypoglossal nerves at the neck. The evoked responses were assessed by the transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) and the isometric force of the geniohyoid muscles (Tgh) until complete recovery of these variables after i.v. administration of vecuronium 0.02 mg kg-1. In both groups, the magnitude of the depression of twitch response was greater and time required to reach control amplitude was longer in the geniohyoid than the diaphragm. The depression of Tgh was significantly greater in group 2 than in group 1, whereas no change was observed in Pdi between the two groups. We conclude that the geniohyoid is more sensitive to vecuronium than the diaphragm and the differential effects of vecuronium are facilitated by a low concentration of enflurane.

Abstract.Purpose: In order to numerically compare the morphological differences of the nasal cavity and nasal sinus between acromegalics and non-acromegalics, bone window CT scans sliced parallel to the transsphenoidal surgical route were performed.Material and cases: Acromegalic patients had small or large macroadenomas and were 13 (7 men and 6 women) in number, aged 53.2+/-16.1 years. Non-acromegalic patients had pituitary tumors and were 44 (21 men and 23 women) in number, aged 52.1 +/-12.5 years. Results The results of acromegalics are described in comparison to non-acromegalics in parentheses.a) The width of the surgical corridor: piriform aperture, 27.6+ /-2.7 (25.9+ /-2.6) mm; origin o f inferior nasal concha, 29.4+ / -9.4 (26.6+ / -4.0) mm; and origin of middle nasal concha, 29.8+/-3.2 (26.2 mm + / -4.2) mm. b) The depth of the surgical corridor: the upper lip thickness, 18. 1 + / -2.7 (13.3 + / -1.4) mm; the distances between pirif orm aperture and sphenoid wall, 52.9+ / -4.6

We examined the effects of halothane and enflurane on diaphragmatic contractility in 12 anesthetized, mechanically ventilated dogs. The diaphragmatic force was assessed from transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) developed at functional residual capacity against an occluded airway during cervical phrenic nerve stimulation. Animals were randomly assigned to two groups, a halothane group (n = 6) and an enflurane group (n = 6). The Pdi stimulus-frequency relationship was compared at anesthetic levels of 1, 1.5, and 2 MAC (minimum alveolar concentration) in each group. The sequence of changing anesthetic concentration was randomized. In addition, the Pdi-frequency relationship was also compared between 1 MAC of halothane and enflurane in 8 of 12 dogs. In animals anesthetized with enflurane, Pdi significantly decreased with 50- and 100-Hz stimulation in the presence of increasing MAC values, whereas Pdi at 10-Hz stimulation was not affected by the depth of anesthesia. Pdi with 20-Hz stimulation during 2 MAC enflurane also decreased significantly below Pdi levels seen at 1 and 1.5 MAC. By contrast, with halothane there was no difference in Pdi at any of the stimulation frequencies during any of the three levels of anesthesia. There was no statistical difference, however, between Pdi-frequency relationships during 1 MAC of halothane and enflurane in eight animals. From these results, we conclude that halothane does not impair diaphragmatic contractility any more than enflurane does, but enflurane decreases force generation of the diaphragm at high stimulation frequencies in a dose-related fashion. This depressant effect of enflurane occurs mainly through the impairment of neuromuscular transmission and/or membrane excitability.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)