. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Aug 20.

Published in final edited form as: Laryngoscope. 2014 Apr 29;124(8):1862–1868. doi: 10.1002/lary.24539

TABLE II.

Frequency–Elicitation of PGCR, PUCR, and RPS in Young and Elderly Subjects Using Slow and Rapid Pharyngeal Water Injections.

Reflex	Injection	Young (%)	Elderly (%)	P Value
PGCR	Slow	97	47	<.001
	Rapid	100	80	NS
PUCR	Slow	97	40	<.001
	Rapid	100	90	NS
RPS	Slow	100	83^*	<.05
	Rapid	100	100	NS
Laryngeal penetration^*		No	Yes

Of the 30 slow pharyngeal perfusions performed in 10 elderly subjects, RPS was absent in five perfusions without any pharyngeal anesthesia (in one subject it was absent in three of three perfusions). During these injections, colored water was seen to rise up to the superior margin of the interarytenoid fold and spill into the larynx (laryngeal penetration), at which point the perfusion was stopped.

NS =not significant; PGCR =pharyngoglottal closure reflex; PUCR =pharyngo-UES contractile reflex; RPS =reflexive pharyngeal swallow.