Surface EMG to assess and quantify upper airway dilators activity during non-invasive ventilation

This study tests the hypothesis that the surface electromyographic (EMG) activity of upper airway dilators would respond to inspiratory loading in a healthy humans model of ventilator trigger asynchrony. EMG activity was measured in levator alae-nasi, genioglossus, parasternal, scalene and diaphragm muscles in eight subjects. They breathed quietly through a face mask and then were connected to a mechanical ventilator. Recordings were performed during nasal breathing against negative pressure triggers (−2.5%, −5% and −10% of maximal inspiratory pressure) and during oro-nasal breathing with a “−10% trigger”. Scalene, alae-nasi and genioglossus EMG activity level increased with the “−10% trigger”. While no breathing route dependence was found in scalene, the significant increase was only found for nasal breathing in alae-nasi and for oro-nasal breathing in genioglossus. The dyspnea intensity was significantly correlated with the EMG activity level of these three muscles. Surface EMG of airway dilator muscles could be used as a complementary tool to assess inspiratory drive during mechanical ventilation.