EFFECT OF AGE ON THE SENSITIVITY OF UPPER AIRWAY REFLEXES
- 1 May 1993
- journal article
- Published by Elsevier in British Journal of Anaesthesia
- Vol. 70 (5) , 574-575
- https://doi.org/10.1093/bja/70.5.574
Abstract
We have recorded the threshold concentration of inhaled ammonia vapour required to elicit reflex glottic closure (NH3TR) in 102 healthy, nonsmoking volunteers (39 female) aged 17-96 yr in order to assess the effect of age upon upper airway reflex sensitivity. A single measurement of sensitivity was made in each subject using a system delivering small concentrations of ammonia vapour for single intermittent breaths to the upper airway and recording glottic closure using an inspiratory pneumotachograph. We found a strong positive correlation between age and NH3TR, indicating a decrease in upper airway reflex sensitivity with increasing age.Keywords
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