ABSTRACT

Objective : To investigate the outcomes resulted from the use of electrical stimulation (ES) for swallowing function in stroke patients with dysphagia.Method : Six patients with dysphagia after stroke attack were examined. We used an electrical stimulator with two channels forty minutes a day for fifteen days. In the first channel, two electrodes were applied to the spots between digastricus and hyoid bone, between hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage, respectively. At the same time, in the second channel, two electrodes were applied to the spots between thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage, and below cricoid cartilage, respectively. We performed videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) twice, using semi-solid swallowing material for each patient, and assessed the degree of the response to ES through pre- and post-treatment functional dysphagia scales measured with the VFSS, which checked clinical swallowing stage.Result : After the ES treatment, there was significant improvement in clinical swallowing stage from saliva control to rice gruel control (p<.05). Also, significantly decreased scores were found on laryngeal elevation, epiglottic closure, residue in valleculae, residue in piriform recess and pharyngeal transit time for pharyngeal phase of swallowing (p<.05).Conclusion : The results showed that ES is a clinically effective intervention in treatment of the patients with dysphagia after stroke. Randomized controlled trials with more participants are needed to further clarify the role of ES on dysphagia.