The proposed study will examine respiratory-swallow physiology in cardiothoracic surgical patients and determine its association with unsafe swallowing and inferior health-related outcomes. Participation will involve a single postoperative research exam of approximately 60-90 minute duration. Participants will be seated upright and positioned for simultaneous instrumental imaging of swallow physiology, nasal airflow monitoring, and respiratory inductance plethysmography testing.
Dysphagia (swallowing impairment) is a common complication of cardiothoracic surgery (CS). Although alterations in respiratory-swallow coordination is a known underlying pathophysiologic mechanism of dysphagia in multiple patient populations, no group has examined respiratory-swallow physiology in CS patients. The proposed study will examine respiratory-swallow physiology in CS patients and determine its association with unsafe swallowing and inferior health-related outcomes.