Clinical Observation of Scalp Acupuncture Combined with Swallowing and Speech Therapeutic Instrument for Treatment of Post-stroke Dysphagia / 广州中医药大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the c linical effect of scalp acupuncture combined with swallowing and speech therapeutic instrument for the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia. Methods Sixty-eight patients with post-stroke dysphagia were randomly divided into treatment group (N = 34)and control group (N = 34). Both groups were given the internal medicine treatment for lowering blood lipids,stabilizing plaque,and nourishing nerves,and took rehabilitation training. And additionally,the treatment group was given scalp acupuncture therapy and the treatment with swallowing and speech therapeutic instrument,and the control group was given the treatment with s wallowing speech therapeutic instrument alone. Two weeks constituted one treatment course, and the two groups were treated for 4 weeks. The scores of Standardized Swallowing Assessment(SSA) and Swallowing Quality of Life Instrument (SWAL-QOL) of the two groups were observed before and after treatment, and then the curative effects were evaluated by Saito 7-grade dysphagia assessment method. Results (1)Till the end of the trial,7 cases of the 68 patients were excluded for transferring to other departments or loss to follow-up. Of the 7 excluded cases, 3 cases were from the treatment group and 4 were from the control group. (2) The total effective rate of the treatment group was 90.32%and that of the control group was 66.67%,the difference being significant(P < 0.05).(3)After treatment,SSA scores of the 2 groups were decreased(P < 0.01)and SWAL-QOL scores were increased (P < 0.01),and the effect on improving SSA scores and SWAL-QOL scores in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.01). Conclusion Both groups can relieve dysphagia and improve the quality of life of post-stroke dysphagia patients,and the scalp acupuncture combined with swallowing and speech therapeutic instrument is more effective for the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia.