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Quantification of rat supraglottic laryngeal sensation threshold
Author(s) -
Gale Derrick C.,
Bhatt Neel K.,
Paniello Randal C.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.26500
Subject(s) - epiglottis , larynx , medicine , anesthesia , superior laryngeal nerve , lidocaine , reflex , sensory threshold , sensory system , sensation , pyriform sinus , anatomy , surgery , psychology , fistula , neuroscience , cognitive psychology , cognitive science
Objective Laryngeal adductor response (LAR) to air puff is used as a reliable method in evaluating sensation thresholds (ST) in human laryngeal sensory disorders. This method has been difficult to perform in small subjects such as rodents. The aims of this study were to 1) evaluate ST to air puff under binocular microlaryngoscopy in rats to evaluate laryngeal sensory disorders, 2) determine sensory thresholds at varying target locations, and 3) determine the ideal depth of anesthesia. Study Design Animal study. Methods Rats were induced with ketamine/xylazine. The level of anesthesia was monitored by spontaneous glottic closure and corneal reflex testing. Air puffs were delivered to the epiglottis, arytenoid, and piriform sinus at varied pressures with pulse time kept constant. Sensation thresholds were determined by direct visualization of the larynx using a binocular microscope. Topical lidocaine was then applied to the larynx and ST was determined. Trials were repeated in a small subset of animals. Results Twenty‐six trials were performed in 14 rats. Mean STs were 39 ± 9.7 mm Hg at the epiglottis, 48.8 ± 10.5 at the arytenoid, and not detectable at the pyriform sinus. Repeated trials demonstrated consistent results. Lidocaine effectively ablated the LAR in each trial. The LAR was difficult to induce while corneal reflex was absent and was difficult to distinguish from spontaneous glottic closures while under lighter sedation. Conclusion Air pulse stimulation in rats is a simple, reliable, and effective way to determine laryngopharyngeal STs in rats and can be used as an efficient and affordable method for experimentation involving laryngeal sensory disorders. Level of Evidence NA. Laryngoscope , 127:E265–E269, 2017