title: Co-ordinated intra-abdominal and intra-thoracic pressures regulate cough assisted cardiac circulatory support.
abstract: Periodically case studies emerge that demonstrate voluntary and forced coughing in ventricular fibrillation or asystole can maintain consciousness for up to 100 s. Forced cough is effective in producing co-ordinated abdominal muscle contraction and increases in intra-abdominal and thoracic pressures. These co-ordinated pressure changes are likely to be responsible for assisted circulation. In this short communication we discuss some of the possible abdominal physiological mechanisms for cough assisted circulatory support.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: McLachlan
authors.forename: S Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Yow
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000502:physiology*; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003371:Cough; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011312:Pressure; D013909:Thorax / Q000502:physiology*