The treatment effi cacy of disturbed swallowing function in patients with ischemic stroke and neurogenic dysphagia

Abstract

The aim. To evaluate the effi cacy of swallowing recovery of patients with ischemic stroke carried out with the use of training rehabilitation method using special nutrient mixtures as part of combination therapy. Material and methods. The study included 65 patients (35 men and 30 women, aged 45 to 80 years) with dysphagia in the acute period of ischemic stroke. Thirty patients (control group) were treated with special binding compounds as part of a combination therapy. Thirty fi ve patients (comparison group) did not use the mixture. The dynamics of the recovery function of swallowing using the Penetration–Aspiration Scale (PAS) and the Fiberoptic Endoscopic Dysphagia Severity Scale (FEDSS), as well as the transition from tube to independent feeding were studied. Results. The training method of rehabilitation using special nutritional mixtures is eff ective assessed with PAS and FEDSS in patients with ischemic stroke and neurogenic dysphagia (p < 0.05). The most pronounced eff ect was achieved in the group of patients with pseudobulbar syndrome. In patients with bulbar syndrome no statistically signifi cant diff erences were observed in the dynamic assessment of the severity of dysphagia on the PAS and FEDSS scales. The application of the training method leads to a signifi cantly better transition from tube to independent feeding. Conclusion. The training method of rehabilitation using special nutritional mixtures is eff ective in patients with ischemic stroke and neurogenic dysphagia and leads to a signifi cantly better transition from tube to independent feeding.