Preprint Technical Note Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Inducing Cough Reflex by Capsaicin Spray Stimulation in Patients with Acquired Brain Injury: A Preliminary Test and Proof of Concept

Luisa Spezzano
,
Maria Daniela Cortese
,
Maria Quintieri
,
Loris Pignolo
ORCID logo ,
Paolo Tonin
ORCID logo ,
Lucia Francesca Lucca
,
Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
ORCID logo ,
Giovanni Morone
ORCID logo ,
Antonio Cerasa
* ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 9 June 2023 / Approved: 12 June 2023 / Online: 12 June 2023 (10:42:59 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Spezzano, L.; Cortese, M.D.; Quintieri, M.; Pignolo, L.; Tonin, P.; Lucca, F.L.; Tomaiuolo, F.; Calabrò, R.S.; Morone, G.; Cerasa, A. Inducing Cough Reflex by Capsaicin Spray Stimulation in Patients with Acquired Brain Injury: A Preliminary Test and Proof of Concept. Clinics and Practice 2023, 13, 1603–1611, doi:10.3390/clinpract13060140. Spezzano, L.; Cortese, M.D.; Quintieri, M.; Pignolo, L.; Tonin, P.; Lucca, F.L.; Tomaiuolo, F.; Calabrò, R.S.; Morone, G.; Cerasa, A. Inducing Cough Reflex by Capsaicin Spray Stimulation in Patients with Acquired Brain Injury: A Preliminary Test and Proof of Concept. Clinics and Practice 2023, 13, 1603–1611, doi:10.3390/clinpract13060140.

Abstract

The cough assessment is fundamental in the weaning process as it gives information on the possibility to expel food and secretion from the airways. The majority of persons suffering from severe acquired brain injury (ABI) are not able to cough voluntarily due to severe motor deficits. In the present study, we evaluated the cough reflex in ABI patients using a new method based on a capsaicin spray stimulation test. 100 Healthy controls demographically matched with 50 ABI patients were included in this study. Clinical observations demonstrated robust cough response in both healthy controls and ABI patients, as well as the safety and tolerability of capsaicin spray stimulation. ABI patients with dysphagia were characterized by slower and delayed cough responses. Further studies are needed to validate this feasible, less-invasive, and simple-to-comprehend technique in inducing cough reflex. According to this preliminary evidence, we believe that this test might be translated into a simple and effective treatment to improve cough strength training reflexive cough modulation in ABI patients.

Keywords

Cough Reflex; Acquired Brain Injury; capsaicin; dysphagia

Subject

Public Health and Healthcare, Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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