Syncope when swallowing

Introduction (Overview): swallow syncope Swallow syncope. During swallowing, the bolus passes through the oral cavity, pharynx, and esophagus in turn. The nerves that dominate these areas are the glossopharyngeal nerve and the vagus nerve. They are closely related in anatomy and physiology. In some cases, such as diseases of the pharynx, esophagus, or mediastinum, stimulation of the esophagus during swallowing can cause increased vagal tone, reflex cardiac depression, cause severe sinus bradycardia, atrioventricular block, and decreased blood pressure As a result, cerebral blood flow is drastically reduced and syncope occurs.