Open AccessEffect of Chin Position on Swallowing Assessed by Manometry
Author(s) -
Hara Minoru,
Takahashi Haruo,
Takasaki Kenji
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599811415823a49
Subject(s) - chin , swallowing , high resolution manometry , medicine , anesthesia , anatomy , surgery , esophagus , achalasia
Objective Evaluate the effects of chin position during swallowing in the neutral, chin‐up, and chin‐tucked positions using a novel high‐resolution manometry (HRM) system. Method Twenty asymptomatic volunteers were studied by HRM. We measured the maximum swallowing pressures at the velopharynx, mesohypopharynx, and upper esophageal sphincter (UES), the mean values of resting UES pressure, its length, the minimum swallowing pressure at UES, and the relaxation interval (RI) of UES, in each position. Results In the chin‐up position, in comparison with the neutral position, the maximum UES pressure (311.1 mmHg vs 214.7 mmHg; P <. 01), the mean value of the resting UES pressure (67.0 mmHg vs 29.5 mmHg; P <. 01), the length of the UES (44.2 cm vs 32.7 cm; P <. 01), and the minimum UES pressure during the RI (−0.5 mmHg vs −6.9 mmHg; P <. 01) increased and the RI (0.29 sec vs 0.63 sec; P <. 01) decreased significantly. In the chin‐tucked position, significant change was seen only in the minimum UES pressure during the RI (−4.5 mmHg vs −6.9 mmHg; P <. 05). Conclusion The chin‐tucked position showed no change except for the increase in UES pressure during RI, and seemed to have no appreciable benefit in the facilitation of swallowing. In contrast, the chin‐up position brought a marked disadvantageous effect against smooth swallowing by increasing the pressure in the region of the UES.