Adjuvant electrical stimulation for patients with dysphagia during the acute phase of ischemic stroke / 中国脑血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant electrical stimulation for patients with dysphagia during acute phase of ischemic stroke. Methods: Twenty-three patients with acute ischemic stroke complicated with dysphagia were divided into a control group (n = 10) and a treatment group (n = 13). The control group only received conventional treatment, and the treatment group received adjuvant electrical stimulation on the basis of conventional treatment. The efficacy evaluation was conducted by using Watian water swallowing test, visual assessing scale (VAS) score, functional oral intake scale (FOIS), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and modified Rankin scale (mRS) score. Results: Circled digit oneWatian water swallowing test, VAS score, and NIHSS score were all decreased after the treatment in the two groups. There were statistical significances (P 0.05). Circled digit twoAfter comparing the different values of each score before and after the treatment in the treatment group with those in the control group, there were no statistical significances. Circled digit threeThe patients were followed up for mean 8.7 months, the swallowing function almost returned to normal in both groups. There was no statistical significance in FOIS and mRS scores between the treatment group and the control group. Conclusion: The swallowing function of the patients was improved significantly after being treated with the two treatment modalities, however the adjuvant electrical stimulation did not have more benefits than the conventional treatment.