A previously healthy 1-year-old boy suddenly began coughing while eating a dried sweet potato. Because he continued gagging after vomiting a piece of the dried sweet potato, his mother brought him to our emergency room. Upon arrival, despite normal pulmonary findings, he was drooling and gagging. Ultrasonography was performed because food impaction at the upper esophagus was suspected based on his medical history and physical examination, and results showed that a linear hyperechoic lesion was obstructing the posterior esophageal wall. Computed tomography was also considered for a detailed examination of the foreign body. However, the patient vomited the dried sweet potato before the test was performed. After vomiting the foreign body, the patient stopped gagging, and his ultrasonographic findings were normal. Therefore, the patient was discharged without any complications.
Child ; Cough ; Eating ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Esophagus ; Foreign Bodies ; Gagging ; Humans ; Ipomoea batatas ; Male ; Mothers ; Physical Examination ; Point-of-Care Systems* ; Sialorrhea ; Ultrasonography* ; Vomiting

Patients with severe gag reflex (SGR) have difficulty getting the treatment they require in local clinics, and many tend to postpone the start of their treatment. To address this problem, dentists have used behavioral techniques and/or pharmacological techniques for treatment. Among the pharmacological methods available, propofol IV sedation is preferred over general anesthesia because it is a simpler procedure. Propofol in combination with remifentanil is characterized by stable sedative effects and quick recovery, leading to a deep sedation. Remifentanil acts to reduce the pain caused by lipid-soluble propofol on injection. The synergistic effects of propofol-remifentanil include reduction in the total amount of drug required to achieve a desired sedation level and anti-emetic effects. In this case report, we outline how the use of propofol-remifentanil IV sedation enabled us to successfully complete a wide range of dental treatments in a patient with SGR.
Anesthesia, General ; Antiemetics ; Deep Sedation ; Dental Care ; Dentists ; Gagging ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Propofol ; Reflex*

An apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) is defined as the combination of clinical presentations such as apnea, marked change in skin and muscle tone, gagging, or choking. It is a frightening event, and it predominantly occurs during infancy at a mean age of 1–3 months. The causes of ALTE are categorized into problems that are: gastrointestinal (50%), neurological (30%), respiratory (20%), cardiovascular (5%), metabolic and endocrine (2%–5%), or others such as child abuse. Up to 50% of ALTEs are idiopathic, where the cause cannot be diagnosed. Infants with an ALTE are often asymptomatic at hospital and there is no standard workup protocol for ALTE. Therefore, a detailed initial history and physical examination are important to determine the extent of the medical evaluation and treatment. Regardless of the cause of an ALTE, all infants with an ALTE should require hospitalization and continuous cardiorespiratory monitoring and evaluation for at least 24 hours. The natural course of ALTEs has seemed benign, and the outcome is generally associated with the affected infants' underlying disease. In conclusion, systemic diagnostic evaluation and adequate treatment increases the survival and quality of life for most affected infants.
Airway Obstruction ; Apnea ; Child ; Child Abuse ; Gagging ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Infantile Apparent Life-Threatening Event ; Physical Examination ; Quality of Life ; Skin

Spontaneous bleeding from a short gastric artery in the absence of pre-disposing trauma is reported very rarely. To the best of our knowledge, the published literature includes only 14 cases. Young men comprise almost all of the patients, and were induced by vomiting or gagging. The patients usually required emergent surgery. Our patient, a 32-year-old man, was diagnosed with spontaneous hemoperitoneum due to short gastric artery tearing after a few instances of vomiting. We managed him conservatively including fluid, vitamin K and antifibrinolytic agent without surgery.
Adult ; Arteries* ; Gagging ; Hemoperitoneum ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Male ; Splenic Artery ; Tears ; Vitamin K ; Vomiting*

BACKGROUND: Topical pharyngeal anesthesia reduces discomfort during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) but may not increase tolerance to the procedure. This case-control study was performed to assess whether lidocaine spray on the endoscope in addition to pharyngeal anesthesia improves patient tolerance to endoscopy we performed. METHODS: Patients who underwent UGIE were assigned to either the case group where the endoscope was treated with 2 sprays of 10% lidocaine before insertion or the control group given only conventional pharyngeal anesthesia. And we compared the frequency of belching and retching during endoscopy. RESULTS: Among 497 eligible patients, 262 were assigned to the case group and 235 to the control group. There were significant differences between the two groups in belching (odds ratio [OR] = 0.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.09-0.24, P < 0.01) and retching (OR = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.15-0.34, P = 0.01) during endoscopy using multivariate analysis. Younger patients (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.94-0.98, P < 0.01) and female patients (OR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.40-3.33, P = 0.01) had belching more frequently than older patients and male patients, respectively. Retching was more frequent in sedated patients (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.25-0.61, P = 0.01) and those with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.00-2.21, P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Use of lidocaine spray on the endoscope improves patient tolerance during UGIE compared to only conventional pharyngeal anesthesia.
Anesthesia ; Case-Control Studies ; Endoscopes* ; Endoscopy* ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Eructation ; Female ; Gagging ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Lidocaine* ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Observational Study*

PURPOSE: To assess removable prosthetic restoration tolerance according to the patient section of the short form of the Gagging Problem Assessment Questionnaire (GPA-pa SF) and the influence of gender, education level and prosthesis type and denture-related mucosal irritation on the GPA-pa SF scores before treatment and over a period of two months after prosthesis insertion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 130 participants who required removable prosthesis were surveyed with a standard form that included questions regarding age, gender, education level, dental attendance, and prosthetic restoration type. Participants answered the GPA-pa SF before restoration (T0) and 1 day (T1), 2 days (T2), 15 days (T3), 1 month (T4), and 2 months (T5) after prosthesis insertion. RESULTS: Of the 130 participants, 110 participants completed the prosthetic restoration procedure, but only 93 of these were able to use the prosthesis over the two-month period. The mean GPA-pa SF score obtained at T0 was higher than the scores obtained at the other periods in the total of the sample. Significant difference was present between mean scores obtained at T0-T1 and T2-T3 than scores obtained at other periods (P<.05). Female participants and participants with denture-related mucosal irritation had higher GPA-pa SF scores at all time points analysed. Significant difference was present between mean GPA-pa SF scores obtained at T2-T3 than scores obtained at other periods for females and participants with denture-related mucosal irritation (P<.05). Education level and prosthesis type did not significantly influence the GPA-pa SF score at any time point analysed (P>.05). CONCLUSION: GPA-pa SF scores were higher before the restoration procedure began, and decreased over time with the use of prosthesis. Gender and denture-related mucosal irritation affected the GPA-pa SF scores.
Education ; Female ; Gagging* ; Humans ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthodontics ; Reflex* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the trapezius squeezing test with that of the jaw thrust maneuver as clinical indicators of adequate conditions for laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion in adults under sevoflurane anesthesia. METHODS: One hundred adult patients of ASA physical status 1 or 2 undergoing minor surgical procedures were randomly allocated to the T (trapezius squeezing, n = 50) group or the J (jaw thrust, n = 50) group. The LMA was inserted immediately after the loss of response to trapezius squeezing or jaw thrust. Successful and unsuccessful attempts were recorded. An unsuccessful attempt was defined as the occurrence of coughing, gagging, gross purposeful movements, breath-holding, laryngospasm, or an SpO2 < 90% during LMA insertion. Insertion time, end-tidal sevoflurane concentration, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate were recorded. RESULTS: The incidence of successful attempts was significantly higher in the T than in the J group (48/50 vs. 36/50, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The trapezius squeezing test is a superior indicator of an adequate condition for LMA insertion compared to the jaw thrust maneuver in adults under sevoflurane anesthesia.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Arterial Pressure ; Cough ; Gagging ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jaw ; Laryngeal Masks ; Laryngismus ; Methyl Ethers ; Surgical Procedures, Minor

Velopharyngeal insufficiency after surgical resection of soft palate cancer can be troublesome. This report concerns a male suffered from severe dysphagia following combined treatment for soft palate cancer. Sequential videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS) were used to assess his swallowing function and plan the interventional strategies. Initial VFSS showed huge nasal regurgitation, increased oral transit time, residues in oral cavity, delayed swallowing reflex, pharyngeal residue, impaired laryngeal elevation, and aspiration in semisolid and liquid trials. Obturator prosthesis was fabricated to minimize velopahryngeal insufficiency. After application of obturator prosthesis, swallowing dysfunction in oral and pharyngeal stages was markedly improved. Nasal regurgitation was not shown. Oral residue, oral transit time in oral stage also improved. Residue on vallaculae and pyriform sinuses decreased in pharyngeal stage. Aspiration also decreased. We reported successful obturator prosthesis application with sequential changes of clinical and VFSS findings in our case.
Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Gagging ; Humans ; Male ; Mouth ; Oral Stage ; Palate, Soft ; Prostheses and Implants ; Pyriform Sinus ; Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to illustrate the circumferential comfortable retainer (CCR) as a removable maxillary retainer with good potential patient compliance and to evaluate the discomfort of the retainers including distorted speech, gagging sensation and appliance discomfort. METHODS: Sixty-six orthodontic patients (male, 23; female, 43; mean age, 23.42 +/- 10.19 years) who received orthodontic treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances were randomly assigned to two groups after debonding, a conventional wraparound retainer (CWR) group that fully covers the palate with an acrylic plate and a highly polished surface, and a circumferential comfortable retainer (CCR) group which has a horseshoe shaped base plate with three folds on the anterior region. A questionnaire that had a visual analog scale (VAS) which consists of a 100-mm horizontal line with 2 end-points labeled "no discomfort" on the left and "worst discomfort" on the right, with regard to distorted speech, gagging sensation and discomfort, was administered to patients after 4 weeks of retainer wear. The Mann-Whitney test was used to test the hypothesis that there was no difference between the two retainers. RESULTS: Comparing distorted speech and discomfort, the CCR group significantly had lower values than the CWR group (p < 0.05). Comparing gagging sensation, the CCR group had lower values than the CWR group but there were no statistically significant differences between groups (p = 0.146). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the results suggest that the circumferential comfortable retainer (CCR) might facilitate patient compliance and thereby improve the maintenance of the fixed orthodontic treatment outcome.
Female ; Gagging ; Humans ; Orthodontic Appliances ; Palate ; Patient Compliance ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sensation ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: No study has been done to detect the aspiration using the videofluoroscopic swallowing study in the elderly patients. Elderly patients admitted to hospitals or long-term care facilities may intake the food orally without any evaluation of swallowing function and may be exposed to aspiration risk, which can be eliminated by some diet modification based on the fluoroscopic findings. METHODS: Sixty-three elderly patients who had an oral-feeding status were recruited in this study. They swallowed diverse food textures twice in the following order; liquid, Yoplait yogurt, pudding, soft-bland diet, and a regular diet. Swallowing parameters were checked as subglottic aspiration, supraglottic penetration, delayed pharyngeal reflex, and vallecular and pyriform sinus residues. RESULTS: Only 2 patients showed both aspiration signs and the subglottic aspiration in the fluoroscopic study. Six patients showed the subglottic aspiration in the fluoroscopic study without any clinical sign. Seven patients who complained of aspiration signs did not show the subglottic aspiration, but all of them presented the supraglottic penetration. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that no covariate was correlated with the subglottic aspiration whereas delayed pharyngeal reflex during liquid (p<0.001) or Yoplait (p=0.010) swallowing were correlated with aspiration plus penetration. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that a fluoroscopic swallowing study is important for the dysphagia diagnosis in elderly patients because of no significant correlation between the aspiration signs assessed clinically and the subglottic aspiration detected by the fluoroscopic swallowing study. Diet modifications, such as, liquid thickening will be necessary when patients demonstrate the evidence of subglottic aspiration during swallowing.
Aged ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diet ; Fluoroscopy ; Food Habits ; Gagging ; Geriatrics ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Long-Term Care ; Pyriform Sinus ; Yogurt