The effects of a sour bolus on swallowing apnea duration, swallow/respiratory phase relationship, and pharyngeal transit time in individuals with ischemic cerebral vascular accident

A large majority of research in swallowing and its disorders is conducted on healthy populations. The motivation of this study was to investigate the effects of a sour bolus in a specific disordered population. Swallowing apnea duration (SAD), swallow-respiratory phase relationship, and pharyngeal transit time (PTT) were examined in six individuals with ischemic cerebral vascular accident (CVA). Simultaneous videofluoroscopy and respiratory measures were recorded across 5- and 20-mL liquid boluses with and without the addition of lemon juice. The data collected was shown to be inconsistent with prior studies on CVA populations. Results showed no significant effect of SAD and PTT as a function of a sour bolus and volume. Respiratory patterns during swallowing also revealed no change as a function of a sour bolus. The results of this current study recommend that further investigations of sensory processing of bolus variables in CVA populations be performed.