Sleep-related deglutition in children.
OBJECTIVE
Clearance of the pharynx by deglutition is important in protecting the airway. The pattern of deglutition during sleep was investigated in children.


METHODS
Ten normal human children (8.6 +/- 2.9 years) were examined via time-matched recordings of polysomnography and of surface electromyography (EMG) of the thyrohyoid and suprahyoid muscles.


RESULTS
During sleep, deglutition was episodic, and it was absent for long periods. The mean number of swallows per hour (+/- SD) during the total sleep time was 2.8 +/- 1.7 per hour. The mean period of the longest absence of deglutition was 59.7 +/- 20.3 minutes. Most deglutition occurred in association with spontaneous electroencephalographic arousal in rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep. Deglutition was related to sleep stage. The mean number of swallows per hour was 27.4 +/- 27.4 during stage 1 sleep, 3.1 +/- 3.5 during stage 2 sleep, 2.8 +/- 3.3 during stage 3 sleep, and 0.9 +/- 0.8 during stage 4 sleep. The deeper the sleep stage became, the lower the mean deglutition frequency became. The mean number of swallows per hour was 2.2 +/- 2.1 during REM sleep. The EMG amplitude dropped to the lowest level of recording during REM sleep.


CONCLUSIONS
Deglutition, a vital function, is infrequent during sleep in children.
Sato
Kiminori
K
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume 830-0011, Japan.
Nakashima
Tadashi
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010614:Pharynx / Q000502:physiology*; D017286:Polysomnography; D012016:Reference Values; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*