Data for: Reflex swallowing elicited by electrical stimulation in obstructive sleep apnea patients

The research study tested whether electrical stimulation of the pharyngeal mucosa is able to induce reliably the swallowing reflex in awake and asleep obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, and whether the induced reflexes affect the sleep variables (sleep Architecture, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and number and length of arousals). In addition, the latency, occurrence, and morphology of swallows were evaluated. Eight patients received an esophageal catheter that was used on three consecutive nights for electrical stimulation and manometric recordings.