TY - JOUR T1 - Upper Airway Assessment and Responses during Mechanically Assisted Cough - A Narrative Review JF - Respiratory Care DO - 10.4187/respcare.08960 SP - respcare.08960 AU - Tiina M. Andersen AU - Brit Hov AU - Thomas Halvorsen AU - Ola Drange Røksund AU - Maria Vollsæter Y1 - 2021/02/12 UR - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/early/2021/02/12/respcare.08960.abstract N2 - When ability to cough is impaired, secretion clearance may be assisted and augmented by Mechanical Insufflation-Exsufflation (MI-E). In some individuals, the efficacy of MI-E may be hampered by counterproductive upper airway reactions, where the airways close in response to positive pressures. In order to fully utilize the therapeutic potential inherent in the MI-E technology, we need a better understanding of the pathophysiology behind these untoward reactions. There is an increasing interest in monitoring and measuring upper airway responses to MI-E, and how such information can be used to optimize the MI-E settings. The purpose of this narrative review is to increase the theoretical understanding of larynx as a respiratory organ, summarize the current literature in the area, and provide insight into how this knowledge can affect current clinical practice. ER -