Effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with swallowing training for dysphagia after acute ischemic stroke / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with swallowing training for dysphagia after acute ischemic stroke. Methods A total of 104 patients with dysphagia after acute ischemic stroke receiving treatment in Stroke Center of Changhai Hospital of Navy Medical University (Second Military Medical University) between Sep. 2013 and Sep. 2016 were retrospectively enrolled. According to the treatment method, the patients were divided into treatment group and control group. The 73 patients in the treatment group received neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with swallowing training, and the 31 patients in the control group received conventional treatment. The change of water swallow test (WST) score, pulmonary infection incidence and gastric tube removal rate were compared between the two groups. Results There were no significant differences in gender, age, baseline WST score or hospital stay between the two groups (all P>0.05). The WST score after intervention was significantly lower in the treatment group than that in the control group ([1.39±0.85] vs [2.71±1.16], F=17.236, P<0.001). The decreased WST score was significantly higher in the treatment group than that in the control group ([2.60±0.89] vs [1.29±0.46], F=19.910, P<0.001). The incidence of pulmonary infection was significantly lower in the treatment group than that in the control group (20.55% [15/73] vs 64.52% [20/31], χ2=18.840, P<0.001). The removal rate of gastric tube was significantly higher in the treatment group than that in the control group (52.05% [38/73] vs 25.81% [8/31], χ2=6.078, P=0.014). Conclusion Neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with swallowing training can improve swallowing function and reduce the incidence of pulmonary infection in the patients with dysphagia after acute ischemic stroke.