The Effects of General Anesthetics on Upper Airway Collapsibility in Healthy Subjects
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2014-03-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The investigators hypothesize that propofol, when compared to sevoflurane, causes the upper
airway to collapse more easily and causes less activity in the tongue muscle. Additionally,
the investigators hypothesize that, under increased carbon dioxide concentrations of the air
inhaled, the upper airway will be less likely to collapse under anesthesia and there will be
increased activity in the tongue muscle under both propofol and sevoflurane, when compared to
breathing normal concentrations of carbon dioxide, as in room air. Furthermore the
investigators hypothesize that anesthesia disrupt the breathing swallow coordination, an
effect additionally altered by increased carbon dioxide through increased respiratory drive.