TY - JOUR AU - Tomori, Zoltan AU - Donic, Viliam AU - Benacka, Roman AU - Jakus, Jan AU - Gresova, Sona PY - 2013 DA - 2013/08/22 TI - Resuscitation and auto resuscitation by airway reflexes in animals JO - Cough SP - 21 VL - 9 IS - 1 AB - Various diseases often result in decompensation requiring resuscitation. In infantsmoderate hypoxia evokes a compensatory augmented breath – sigh and more severehypoxia results in a solitary gasp. Progressive asphyxia provokes gasping respirationsaving the healthy infant – autoresuscitation by gasping. A neonate with suddeninfant death syndrome, however, usually will not survive. Our systematic research inanimals indicated that airway reflexes have similar resuscitation potential asgasping respiration. Nasopharyngeal stimulation in cats and most mammals evokes theaspiration reflex, characterized by spasmodic inspiration followed by passiveexpiration. On the contrary, expiration reflex from the larynx, or cough reflex fromthe pharynx and lower airways manifest by a forced expiration, which in cough ispreceded by deep inspiration. These reflexes of distinct character activate thebrainstem rhythm generators for inspiration and expiration strongly, but differently.They secondarily modulate the control mechanisms of various vital functions of theorganism. During severe asphyxia the progressive respiratory insufficiency may inducea life-threatening cardio-respiratory failure. The sniff- and gasp-like aspirationreflex and similar spasmodic inspirations, accompanied by strong sympatho-adrenergicactivation, can interrupt a severe asphyxia and reverse the developing dangerouscardiovascular and vasomotor dysfunctions, threatening with imminent loss ofconsciousness and death. During progressive asphyxia the reversal of graduallydeveloping bradycardia and excessive hypotension by airway reflexes starts withreflex tachycardia and vasoconstriction, resulting in prompt hypertensive reaction,followed by renewal of cortical activity and gradual normalization of breathing. Acombination of the aspiration reflex supporting venous return and the expiration orcough reflex increasing the cerebral perfusion by strong expirations, provides apowerful resuscitation and autoresuscitation potential, proved in animal experiments.They represent a simple but unique model tested in animal experiments. SN - 1745-9974 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-9974-9-21 DO - 10.1186/1745-9974-9-21 ID - Tomori2013 ER -