A ventilator-dependent C2 ASIA A SCI patient is taught a technique that involves swallowing air into the lungs to allow brief periods off the ventilator. What is this technique called?

A ventilator-dependent C2 ASIA A SCI patient is taught a technique that involves swallowing air into the lungs to allow brief periods off the ventilator. What is this technique called?

• A. Pursed lip breathing
• B. Glossopharyngeal breathing
• C. Diaphragmatic breathing
• D. Paradoxical breathing

Answer: (B)

Glossopharyngeal breathing is a compensatory breathing technique used by people with very high cervical spinal cord injuries to take breaths off the ventilator for short periods. It relies on the tongue and pharyngeal muscles to swallow and trap air, creating a pressure that pushes air from the upper airway into the lungs. By repeating these swallows and airway closures, air can be packed into the lungs, allowing a brief ventilator-free breath. This makes it the best choice because the other options describe different patterns: pursed-lip breathing slows exhalation to prevent airway collapse, diaphragmatic breathing relies on the diaphragm for inspiration, and paradoxical breathing is an abnormal pattern where chest movement is opposite to normal during inhalation. Glossopharyngeal breathing is specifically the technique that uses swallow-driven air entry to extend off-ventilator periods when feasible.

Glossopharyngeal breathing is a compensatory breathing technique used by people with very high cervical spinal cord injuries to take breaths off the ventilator for short periods. It relies on the tongue and pharyngeal muscles to swallow and trap air, creating a pressure that pushes air from the upper airway into the lungs. By repeating these swallows and airway closures, air can be packed into the lungs, allowing a brief ventilator-free breath. This makes it the best choice because the other options describe different patterns: pursed-lip breathing slows exhalation to prevent airway collapse, diaphragmatic breathing relies on the diaphragm for inspiration, and paradoxical breathing is an abnormal pattern where chest movement is opposite to normal during inhalation. Glossopharyngeal breathing is specifically the technique that uses swallow-driven air entry to extend off-ventilator periods when feasible.