Which swallow maneuver has been associated with producing cardiac arrhythmia in patients?

The supraglottic swallow maneuver is designed to protect the airway by encouraging swallowing while holding the breath, which can prevent aspiration. However, during this maneuver, the action of holding one's breath and the subsequent changes in pressure in the thoracic cavity can affect cardiac function. This can lead to a decrease in heart rate or even trigger arrhythmias in some individuals, particularly those who may have pre-existing cardiac conditions or compromised cardiovascular health.

The other options, while they may assist with swallowing techniques, do not have the same significant association with cardiac arrhythmia as the supraglottic swallow maneuver does. For example, the Mendelsohn maneuver focuses on prolonging the swallow to improve coordination and muscle contraction, the chin-down posture helps in airway protection during swallowing, and head rotation toward the weak side is often used to facilitate bolus flow in individuals with unilateral weakness but does not involve breath control that could influence heart rhythm. Thus, the supraglottic swallow maneuver is uniquely linked to the potential risk of inducing cardiac arrhythmias due to its physiological demands.