Author/Authors :
Silverman, Erin Division of Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Medicine - Department of Medicine - College of Medicine - University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA , Sapienza, Christine M. Brooks Rehabilitation College of Health Sciences - Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, FL, USA , Miller, Sarah College of Nursing - Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA , Carnaby, Giselle Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders - University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA , Levy, Charles Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service - North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL, USA , Tsai, Hsiu-Wen Department of Physiological Sciences - College of Veterinary Medicine - University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA , Davenport, Paul W. Department of Physiological Sciences - College of Veterinary Medicine - University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Abstract :
Cough and swallow protect the lungs and are frequently impaired following traumatic brain injury (TBI). This project examined
cough response to inhaled capsaicin solution challenge in a cohort of four young adults with a history of TBI within the preceding
five years. All participants had a history of tracheostomy with subsequent decannulation and dysphagia after their injuries (resolved
for all but one participant). Urge to cough (UTC) and cough response were measured and compared to an existing database of normative cough response data obtained from 32 healthy controls (HCs). Participants displayed decreased UTC and cough responses
compared to HCs. It is unknown if these preliminary results manifest as a consequence of disrupted sensory (afferent) projections,
an inability to perceive or discriminate cough stimuli, disrupted motor (efferent) response, peripheral weakness, or any combination
of these factors. Future work should attempt to clarify if the observed phenomena are borne out in a larger sample of individuals
with TBI, determine the relative contributions of central versus peripheral nervous system structures to cough sensory perceptual
changes following TBI (should they exist), and formulate recommendations for systematic screening and assessment of cough sensory perception in order to facilitate rehabilitative efforts. This project is identified with the National Clinical Trials NCT02240329.
