Dysphagic Stroke Patients Research Articles

The Hyoid Bone Kinematics in Dysphagic Stroke Patients: Instantaneous Velocity, Acceleration and Temporal Sequence Matters.

Hyoid bone excursion (HBE) is one of the most critical events in the pharyngeal phase of swallowing. Most previous studies focused on the total displacement and average velocity of HBE. However, HBE during swallowing is not one-dimensional, and the change of velocity and acceleration is not linear. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between the instantaneous kinematics parameters of HBE and the severity of penetration/aspiration and pharyngeal residue in patients with stroke. A total of 132 sets of video-fluoroscopic swallowing study images collected from 72 dysphagic stroke patients were analyzed. The maximal instantaneous velocity, acceleration, displacement, and the time required to reach these values in the horizontal and vertical axes were measured. Patients were grouped according to the severity of the Penetration-Aspiration Scale and the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile- Pharyngeal Residue. The outcome was then stratified according to the consistencies of swallowing materials. Stroke patients with aspiration were associated with a lower maximal horizontal instantaneous velocity and acceleration of HBE, a shorter horizontal displacement, and prolonged time to maximal vertical instantaneous velocity compared to the non-aspirators. In patients with pharyngeal residue, the maximal horizontal displacement of HBE was decreased. After stratification according to bolus consistencies, the temporal parameters of HBE were more significantly associated with aspiration severity when swallowing thin bolus. Meanwhile spatial parameters such as displacement had a bigger influence on aspiration severity when swallowing viscous bolus. These novel kinematic parameters of HBE could provide important reference for estimating swallowing function and outcomes in dysphagic stroke patients.

Determinants of in-hospital muscle loss in acute ischemic stroke – Results of the Muscle Assessment in Stroke Study (MASS)

There is a change in the mass and composition of paretic and non-paretic skeletal muscles in the chronic phase of stroke. The multi-center, prospective, and observational Muscle Assessment in Stroke Study (MASS) was performed to evaluate the degree of muscle loss during the in-hospital acute stroke setting and determine factors contributing to this loss. Acute dysphagic ischemic stroke patients (n=107) admitted to neuro-intensive care units were evaluated by computed tomography on days 1 and 14 after admission to determine the cross-sectional muscle area (CSMA) at the level of the mid-humerus, mid-thigh, and third lumbar vertebra. The percentage change in CSMA and variables associated with this change were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. There were significant reductions in CSMA in all the muscle groups analyzed; the most prominent change was observed in the arms (both: 14.2±10.7%; paretic: 17.7±11.6%; non-paretic: 10.1±12.5%), followed by the muscles in the legs (both: 12.4±8.7%; paretic: 12.9±9.9%; non-paretic: 12.0±9.3%) and L3-vertebra level (5.6±9.8%) (P<0.001 for all). Higher calorie (r=-0.378, P<0.001) or protein (r=-0.352, P<0.001) intake was negatively associated with the decrease in CSMA of upper extremities. A substantial protein (≥0.4g/kg/d) or calorie (≥5kcal/kg/d) gap between targeted or actual intake was related to a larger decrease in CSMA in all the anatomic regions (P≤0.05 for all). Other significant predictors of muscle loss included history of diabetes mellitus, male sex, higher BMI, in-hospital infections, and the necessity for invasive mechanical ventilation. There is a considerable degree of loss in the global muscle mass in acute ischemic stroke patients over a two-week period. Along with several factors, falling significantly behind the daily protein or calorie targets was related to the decrease in the muscle area. TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT03825419.

Abstract 10: Determinants Of In-hospital Muscle Loss In Acute Ischemic Stroke - Results Of The Muscle Assessment In Stroke Study (MASS)

Background: Recent literature, primarily based on chronic stroke patients, highlighted a change in the mass and composition of paretic and non-paretic skeletal muscles following stroke. The multi-center, prospective, and observational Muscle Assessment in Stroke Study (MASS; ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03825419) was performed to evaluate the degree of muscle loss during the in-hospital acute stroke setting and determine factors contributing to this loss, especially from the perspective of protein/calorie intake. Methods: Acute dysphagic ischemic stroke patients admitted to neuro-intensive care units were evaluated by computed tomography on days 1 and 14 after admission to determine the cross-sectional muscle area (CSMA) at the level of the mid-humerus, mid-thigh, and third lumbar vertebra. The percentage change in CSMA and variables associated with this change were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: The study population was comprised of 107 patients [median (IQR) age:74 (63-82) years; 58 females]. There were significant reductions in CMSA in all the muscle groups analyzed; the most prominent change was observed in the arms (both: 14.2±10.7%; paretic: 17.7±11.6%; non-paretic: 10.1±12.5%), followed by the muscles in the legs (both: 12.4±8.7%; paretic: 12.9±9.9%; non-paretic: 12.0±9.3%) and L3-vertebra level (5.6±9.8%) (p&lt;0.001 for all). The percent reduction in CSMA of the arms was associated with an unfavorable outcome (90-day mRS≥3) when adjusted for age and admission stroke severity [OR 1.13 (1.04-1.23) for each 1% reduction in CSMA; p=0.003]. The presence of a significant protein (≥0.4 g/kg/d) or calorie (≥5kcal/kg/d) gap between targeted or actual intake was related to a larger decrease in CSMA in all the anatomic regions evaluated (p≤0.05 for all). Other significant predictors of muscle loss included a history of diabetes mellitus, male sex, higher body mass index, in-hospital infections, and the necessity for invasive mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: There is a considerable degree of loss in the global muscle mass in acute ischemic stroke patients over a two-week period. Along several factors, falling significantly behind the daily protein or calorie targets was related to the decrease in muscle area.

Factors Contributing to Complete Oral Intake in Dysphagic Stroke Patients with Enteral Feeding Tubes in Convalescent Rehabilitation Wards

This study investigated the factors contributing to complete oral intake (COI) in dysphagic stroke patients with enteral feeding tubes in the local clinical setting. Data of patients with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) or nasogastric tube (NGT) feeding on admission to convalescent rehabilitation wards (CRWs) were extracted from the Kaga Regional Cooperation Clinical Pathway for Stroke database for multiple centers including 19 acute care hospitals and 11 hospitals with CRWs. Patients were divided into two groups based on their status regarding COI or incomplete oral intake (ICOI) at discharge. Logistic regression analysis with forced-entry variables was used to identify factors contributing to COI. On discharge from CRWs, COI and ICOI were observed in 140 and 207 cases, respectively. The COI group was younger, had a higher rate of initial stroke, higher Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) scores, higher Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor and cognitive scores, higher Body Mass Index (BMI), lower rate of patients with PEG, and shorter stays in acute care wards. Logistic regression analysis with forced entry revealed that younger age; initial stroke; higher FOIS score, FIM cognitive score, and BMI; and shorter stay in the acute care ward contributed to COI. The primary factors contributing to COI in dysphagic stroke patients with enteral feeding tubes were younger age, initial stroke, higher swallowing and cognitive function, good nutritional status, and shorter stay in the acute care ward.

The Safety of Food and Drink Consistencies Based on a Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing Study Results in Stroke Patients with Dysphagia

Objective: Knowing such dysphagic stroke patients’ ability to swallow various food consistencies from instrumental investigations will help the medical staff choose the appropriate and safe food consistencies, and lead to a better swallowing outcome. This study aimed to determine the safety of food textures and drink consistencies in stroke patients with dysphagia.Materials and Methods: Stroke patients who failed the small-volume water swallow test (WST) and underwent fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine from 2017 to 2020 were reviewed. The patients’ characteristics and safe food textures and drink consistencies from their FEES results were collected. They were given a bolus test, which included four modified food textures and three varying drink consistencies, as adapted from the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative. The sequence of bolus test was adjusted by participants’ swallowing abilities individually. Moreover, their compensatory techniques were reviewed.Results: Forty-three participants were recruited. Most of them (81.3%) could safely swallow one consistency of drink. Twenty-five (58.1%) could safely swallow a mildly thick liquid. About 20% of them could not safely swallow any food textures. Most participants (76%) who safely swallowed a mildly thick liquid could also safely swallow at least one kind of food texture. About half of them (53%) used the chin-tuck technique during the FEES testing.Conclusion: Half of stroke patients with dysphagia who failed small-volume WST could safely swallow with a mildly thick liquid with compensatory techniques. Therefore, they should be referred to dysphagia specialists for comprehensive evaluation and management.

Neural correlates in the development of and recovery from dysphagia after supratentorial stroke: A prospective tractography study

BackgroundSwallowing impairment after stroke may be related to the state of the corticobulbar tract (CBT), which is the motor projection fiber responsible for deglutition, but evidence is still lacking regarding which parameter could relate to poststroke swallowing recovery as measured by videofluroscope findings. This prospective study evaluated diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters among dysphagic stroke patients compared with those of nondysphagia stroke patients and age-matched healthy subjects and followed swallowing recovery in dysphagic patients as assessed with the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP©). MethodsDiffusion tractography was performed in 69 subjects, consisting of 27 S patients with dysphagia, 18 healthy subjects and 24 S patients with no evidence of dysphagia. DTI was performed within 14 days of stroke onset. Follow-up DTI was performed in the dysphagic group at three months. The tract volume (TV) of the CBT and frontal operculum as determined by fractional anisotropy (FA) was compared among the 3 groups. Correlations of these parameters with initial dysphagia severity and swallowing parameters at baseline and 3 months postonset were assessed. ResultsAll stroke patients showed lower CBT TV on the affected and unaffected sides than those in the control group, even in those who showed no evidence of clinical dysphagia. The dysphagia group showed a greater reduction in CBT TV on the affected side (P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that cutoff values of 4.1 cm3 for TV and 0.24 for FA from the affected side could classify dysphagia with good accuracy (AUC = 0.77, 0.75, respectively) and specificity levels. FA values in the unaffected frontal operculum showed a significant correlation (rho = −0.40, P = 0.02) with swallowing outcome as observed by the total scores of MBSImP©. In addition, these values proved to be significant variables to predict swallowing outcome in multiple regression analysis (R2 = 0.6317, adjR2 = 0.5815, F = 12.58, p < 0.001, AIC = 203.65). ConclusionsEven when clinical dysphagia is not apparent, individuals with a supratentorial stroke may show reduced CBT parameters compared to healthy controls. Supratentorial stroke may manifest with dysphagia if a certain extent of CBT volume and white matter tract integrity is involved, with a greater degree of CBT injury in the affected sides determining poststroke dysphagia severity. In contrast, recovery was independent of the affected parameters, and an initial lower FA value in the unaffected frontal operculum was indicative of a poorer 3-month dysphagia outcome. DTI parameters obtained within two weeks of stroke onset may help classify those with dysphagia, predict recovery and help plain therapeutic strategies to maintain the adaptive role of the white matter tract, which is crucial in swallowing recovery.

The Contribution of Dysphagia to Acute Stroke Morbidity and Mortality in Nigeria: A Prospective Study

Background: The assessment of time-trend morbidity and mortality in acute stroke is critical to clinical policy decisions and resource allocation.&#x0D; Objectives: To determine the prevalence of dysphagia in acute stroke and the impact of dysphagia on short term stroke outcome (30 days post-stroke).&#x0D; Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal study. Bedside screening for dysphagia modified Rankin score (MRS) and Barthel Index (BI) were performed on acute stroke patients on day 1, day 7, day 14 and day 30 after stroke to determine the frequency of dysphagia. Patients with dysphagia were then compared with age- and gender-matched controls (stroke patients without dysphagia) in terms of stroke characteristics and 30-day outcome.&#x0D; Results: Of the recruited 200 patients, 99 (49.5%) had dysphagia. Patients with intracerebral haemorrhagic stroke had a significantly higher prevalence of dysphagia (64% vs 36%; p&lt;0.001). At baseline, dysphagic patients had more severe (Mean NHISS score, 22.81 Vs 8.92; p=0.01) and subcortical strokes (57.1% vs 42.9%, p = 0.015). At 30 days after stroke, the mean MRS was significantly higher in the dysphagic stroke patients (3.8±1.02) compared to those without dysphagia (2.5±1.3), (p = 0.001)]. Case fatality was higher among the dysphagic (79.8% vs 15.84%; p = 0.001) and the mean survival time was lower (12.21 days) among the dysphagic group (p = 0.001)&#x0D; Conclusion: Severe stroke, subcortical stroke and haemorrhagic stroke types were significantly associated with dysphagia at baseline. Dysphagia adversely influenced 30-days morbidity and case fatality in this cohort of acute stroke patients.

&lt;p&gt;Effectiveness of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Post-Stroke Dysphagia: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials&lt;/p&gt;

The purpose of this review was to summarize the latest best scientific evidence on the efficacy of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on swallowing function in dysphagic stroke patients. A comprehensive systematic search of literature published between November 2014 and May 2020 was performed using the following electronic databases: PubMed/Medline, CINAHL, PEDro, Science Direct, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and Scopus. Only randomized controlled trials (RCT) evaluating the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on swallowing function in dysphagic stroke patients were included. Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) has been used to evaluate the risk of bias of included trials. This review was reported in accordance with PRISMA statement guideline. The methodological quality of the studies was determined using PEDro scale and GRADE approach. Evidence of overall quality was graded from moderate to high. Eleven RCTs involving 784 patients were analyzed. The primary outcome measures of this review were functional dysphagia scale (FDS) and standard swallowing assessment. This review found neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) coupled with traditional swallowing therapy could be an optional intervention to improve swallowing function after stroke in rehabilitation department.

High-flow nasal cannula ventilation therapy for obstructive sleep apnea in ischemic stroke patients requiring nasogastric tube feeding: a preliminary study

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increasing risk of recurrent stroke and mortality. Nasogastric tubes used by dysphagic stroke patients may interfere with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) due to air leakage. This study was evaluated the effects and short-term tolerability of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy for OSA in stroke patients with nasogastric intubation. The HFNC titration study was performed in post-acute ischemic stroke patients with nasogastric intubation and OSA. Then, participants were treated with HFNC therapy in the ward for one week. Eleven participants (eight males) who were all elderly with a median age of 72 (IQR 67–82) years and a body mass index of 23.5 (IQR 22.0–26.6) completed the titration study. The HFNC therapy at a flow rate up to 50~60 L/min significantly decreased the apnea-hypopnea index from 52.0 events/h (IQR 29.9–61.9) to 26.5 events/h (IQR 3.3–34.6) and the total arousal index from 34.6 (IQR 18.6–42.3) to 15.0 (IQR 10.3–25.4). The oxygen desaturation index was also significantly decreased from 53.0 events/h (IQR 37.0–72.8) to 16.2 events/h (IQR 0.8–20.1), accompanied by a significant improvement in the minimum SpO2 level. Finally, only three participants tolerated flow rates of 50~60 L/minute in one-week treatment period. Conclusively, HFNC therapy at therapeutic flow rate is effective at reducing the OSA severity in post-acute ischemic stroke patients with nasogastric intubation. Owing to the suboptimal acceptance, HFNC might be a temporary treatment option, and CPAP therapy is suggested after the nasogastric tube is removed.

Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) to determine neurological intensive care patients’ oral diet

Purpose Dysphagia is common in critically ill neurological patients and is associated with a high mortality and morbidity. Data on the usefulness of flexible endoscopic examination of swallowing (FEES) in neurological intensive care unit (ICU) patients are lacking, raising the need for evaluation. Method FEES was performed in neurological intensive care patients suspected of dysphagia. We correlated findings with baseline data, disability status, pneumonia and duration of hospitalisation, as well as a need for mechanical ventilation or tracheotomy. Result This analysis consisted of 125 patients with suspected dysphagia. Most of the patients (81; 64,8%) suffered from acute stroke. Dysphagia was diagnosed using FEES in 90 patients (72%). FEES results led to dietary modifications in 80 patients (64%). The outcome at discharge was worse in dysphagic stroke patients diagnosed by FEES as compared to non-dysphagic stroke patients (p = 0.009). Patients without oral diet had higher need for intubation (p = 0.007), tracheotomy (p = 0.032) and higher mortality (p < 0.001) in comparison to patients with at least small amounts of oral intake. Conclusion As the clinical assessment of the patients often classified the dysphagia incorrectly, the broad use of FEES in ICU patients might help to adequately adjust patients’ oral diet. This knowledge might contribute to lower mortality and morbidity.

Post-stroke dysphagia: an analysis of the competences of the care processes of the interdisciplinary team

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the competencies of the interprofessional team in the care of dysphagic stroke patients. Methods: an exploratory-descriptive, qualitative study. The research participants i.e., nursing technicians, nurses, physiotherapists, speech therapists and physicians that provided care to patients with stroke in the acute and subacute phase, were randomly selected. The study setting was a stroke unit and neurological ward of the neurology referral hospital for Ceará State, Brazil. Data collection was performed through a semi-structured and recorded interview. The recorded data were organized and analyzed, according to the thematic analysis technique proposed by Bardin. Results: based on the statements, three main categories were developed: “conceptualizing and identifying dysphagia”, “knowledge about the prevention of bronchoaspiration in stroke patients” and “bronchoaspiration as a complication of dysphagia”. The providers’ statements revealed that some experienced doubts and even unawareness about what dysphagia is. Conclusion: the present study showed a complexity of care for stroke patients with dysphagia. Therefore, this scenario reflects the need for continuing education in the service and for interdisciplinarity among professional categories.

A Pilot Study of Pharyngeal Electrical Stimulation for Orally Intubated ICU Patients with Dysphagia.

Dysphagia is a common disorder in neurological and non-neurological intensive care unit (ICU) patients and can lead to aspiration pneumonia, prolonged ventilation, and delayed extubation. Dysphagia is an independent predictor of increased mortality. In dysphagic stroke patients with tracheotomy, the use of pharyngeal electric stimulation (PES), an emerging technique to treat dysphagia, has been shown to improve airway protection and shorten time to decannulation. The objective of this study was to determine whether patients who receive PES have a lower prevalence of pneumonia and frequency of reintubation. Secondary analysis of a non-blinded interventional subject sample from a large clinical study with a historical age, pathology, and severity-matched control group. ICU of a tertiary care medical center. In this pilot non-blinded study, a group of 15 intubated patients in a general and a neurologic ICU received PES while orally intubated during ICU stay. A control group (n = 25) matched for age, type, and region of pathology, and severity of illness expressed by Simplified Acute Physiology Score and Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System was used to compare for pneumonia and need for reintubation. Patients treated with PES had significantly lower prevalence of pneumonia (4 vs 21, p = 0.00046) and frequency of reintubation (0 vs 6, p = 0.046) when compared to controls. Although limited by its small size and non-blinded design, this is the first study demonstrating the benefits of PES in ICU patients still orally intubated, thus offering a potential new method to reduce morbidity, mortality, and economic burden in a mixed ICU population. In order to further investigate and strengthen our findings, a statistically powered, randomized controlled study is recommended.

The therapeutic effect and complications of oro-esophageal tube training in stroke patients.

Background: Patients with severe dysphagia after stroke are usually fed using a nasogastric tube. However, this method is inconvenient and causes complications. The oro-esophageal (OE) tube has been used as an alternative parenteral feeding method for patients for whom safe oral feeding is impossible. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects and complications of OE tube feeding in stroke patients with dysphagia.Methods: This study was designed as a retrospective medical chart review of dysphagic stroke patients who were recommended for OE tube feeding. Thirty-eight stroke patients were recommended for OE tube feeding according to videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) findings. Of those patients, 17 received OE tube feeding training and conventional dysphagia therapy. Follow-up VFSSs were performed sequentially based on the patients’ conditions. When a patient was able to swallow therapeutic foods with specific viscosities during the VFSS, oral feeding was considered to be initiated. Patients were divided into two groups according to final feeding methods.Results: Seventeen patients attempted OE tube feeding. Among them, 64.7% of the patients could change to full oral feeding at their follow-up VFSS evaluation. Additionally, 70.6% of the patients showed gastroesophageal reflux disease regardless of whether they changed to oral feeding. On individual items of the Functional Dysphagia Scale, both groups showed significant improvements in the triggering of pharyngeal swallowing, the amount of residue, and the pharyngeal transit time. These functions were better improved in the patients who could change to oral feeding than in those who could not. Both groups showed significant aggravation of nasal penetration.Conclusion: Our study quantitatively shows the therapeutic effects and complications of OE tube training. OE tube feeding can facilitate the swallowing process and assist patients in transitioning to oral feeding. This easy-to-apply technique may significantly impact future treatment strategies in stroke patients with severe dysphagia.

Clinical characteristics of dysphagic stroke patients with salivary aspiration: A STROBE-compliant retrospective study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between radionuclide salivagram findings and clinical characteristics in stroke patient with swallowing difficulty.In this study, dysphagic stroke patients who had undergone both a radionuclide salivagram and videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) were included retrospectively. To evaluate the correlations between clinical parameters and salivary aspiration, clinical parameters, such as stroke lesion, the degree of paralysis, sex, age, onset duration of stroke, the score of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the score of the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), the total score of the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and each sub-score of the MBI were collected and analyzed.In the results of this study, the MMSE score was the only significant parameter for predicting positive findings in a salivagram in a multivariate logistic regression analysis in patients with supratentorial stroke. In patients with infratentorial stroke, however, the transfer sub-score of MBI was the only significant parameter for predicting positive findings in a salivagram in a multivariate logistic regression analysis.In conclusion, care should be taken to prevent salivary aspiration when the MMSE score is less than eight in patients with supratentorial stroke, and the transfer sub-score of MBI score is less than three in patients with infratentorial stroke.

Different clinical predictors of aspiration pneumonia in dysphagic stroke patients related to stroke lesion: A STROBE-complaint retrospective study.

Although stroke is one of the most common causes of dysphagia, no studies have investigated the radionuclide salivagram as a predictor of aspiration pneumonia in patients with stroke. In addition, few researches on the risk factors of aspiration pneumonia in patients with subacute and chronic stroke undergoing rehabilitation in the rehabilitation unit have been rarely conducted. In this study, therefore, we investigated whether a radionuclide salivagram could predict aspiration pneumonia, and tried to find other clinical factors that may be helpful in predicting aspiration pneumonia in stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation in the rehabilitation department.From March 2013 and January 2018, a retrospective review of the medical records of 1182 subacute and chronic stroke patients who were admitted to rehabilitation department (South Korea) was carried out. We included 117 stroke patients with swallowing difficulties who were admitted to our rehabilitation department and satisfied our criteria retrospectively. Stroke lesion, the degree of paralysis, sex, age, onset duration, feeding methods, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), the presence of aspiration in VFSS or salivagram, the penetration-aspiration scale (PAS), and the total score of the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) were investigated by reviewing medical records.To evaluate the predictor of aspiration pneumonia for patients with stroke, multivariate logistic regression analysis with forward stepwise was performed. In the results of this study, only MMSE was significant as a clinical predictor, but not aspiration in VFSS or salivagram in multivariate analysis of supratentorial stroke patients (OR, 0.895) (95% CI, 0.830–964). In multivariate analysis of infratentorial stroke patients, combined results of salivagram and VFSS (aspiration in a salivagram or VFSS) (OR, 0.956) (95% CI, 0.919–995), and total MBI scores were significant as clinical predictors (OR, 24.882) (95% CI, 1.298–477.143).In conclusion, MMSE can be a clinical predictor of the occurrence of aspiration pneumonia in patients with supratentorial stroke. In contrast, total MBI score and combined results of a salivagram and VFSS can be clinical predictors of the occurrence of aspiration pneumonia in patients with infratentorial stroke.

Disfajik İnmeli Bireylerde Kullanılan Kompansatuvar Postürün Yutma Üzerine Etkisi

ÖzetAmaç Bu çalışmanın amacı inme sonrası disfaji görülen bireylerde kullanılan postüral adaptasyon manevralarının bireylerin yutması üzerine etkisini incelemektir. Gereç ve Yöntem Fonksiyonel oral alım skalasına göre disfaji görülen 64 inmeli birey bu çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Bireylerin yutma becerileri Teat-10 testi baş nötral pozisyonda ve etkilemiş tarafa rotasyon yaptırılarak 2 kez değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular Etkilenen arter bölgelerine göre yutma bozukluk şiddetlerinde belirgin farklılık olduğu bulunmuştur(p&amp;lt;0.05). Pozisyonlama sonrası yapılan yutma değerlendirmesi sonuçlarında nötral pozisyona göre yutmalarının anlamlı düzeyde değiştiği gözlenmiştir(p&amp;lt;0.05). Sonuç Bu çalışmanında chin tuck postürüne ek olarak başın etkilenen tarafa rotasyonunun inmeli disfajik bireylerde yutmayı olumlu etkilediği bulunmuştur Anahtar kelimeler: Disfaji, İnme, Rehabilitasyon

The Effect of Improved Dysphagia Care on Outcome in Patients with Acute Stroke: Trends from 8-Year Data of a Large Stroke Register

Background: Early dysphagia screening and appropriate management are recommended by current guidelines to reduce complications and case fatality in acute stroke. However, data on the potential benefit of changes in dysphagia care on patient outcome are limited. Our objective was to assess the degree of implementation of dysphagia guidelines and determine the impact of modifications in dysphagia screening and treatment practices on disease complications and outcome in stroke patients over time. Methods: In this prospective register-based study (“Stroke Register of Northwestern Germany”), all adult stroke patients admitted to 157 participating hospitals between January, 2008 and December, 2015 were included (n = 674,423). Dysphagia incidence upon admission, the proportion of patients receiving a standardized swallowing screening, and the percentage of dysphagic patients being referred to a speech language therapist (SLT) for treatment were obtained per year. Pneumonia rate, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge, and in-hospital mortality were compared between groups of dysphagic vs. non-dysphagic patients over time. Results: Screening proportions continuously increased from 47.2% in 2008 to 86.6% in 2015. But the proportion diagnosed with dysphagia remained stable with about 19%. The number of dysphagic patients receiving SLT treatment grew from 81.6 up to 87.0%. Pneumonia incidence was higher in dysphagic stroke cases (adjusted OR 5.4 [5.2–5.5], p < 0.001), accompanied by a worse mRS at discharge (adjusted OR for mRS ≥3: 3.1 [3.0–3.1], p < 0.001) and higher mortality (adjusted OR 3.1 [3.0–3.2], p < 0.001). The order of magnitude of these end points did not change over time. Conclusion: Although advances have been made in dysphagia care, prevalent screening and treatment practices remain insufficient to reduce pneumonia rate, improve functional outcome, and decrease case fatality in dysphagic stroke patients. More research is urgently needed to develop more effective swallowing therapies.

Randomized trial of transcranial direct current stimulation for poststroke dysphagia.

We evaluated whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is able to enhance dysphagia rehabilitation following stroke. Besides relating clinical effects with neuroplastic changes in cortical swallowing processing, we aimed to identify factors influencing treatment success. In this double-blind, randomized study, 60 acute dysphagic stroke patients received contralesional anodal (1mA, 20 minutes) or sham tDCS on 4 consecutive days. Swallowing function was thoroughly assessed before and after the intervention using the validated Fiberoptic Endoscopic Dysphagia Severity Scale (FEDSS) and clinical assessment. In 10 patients, swallowing-related brain activation was recorded applying magnetoencephalography before and after the intervention. Voxel-based statistical lesion pattern analysis was also performed. Study groups did not differ according to demographic data, stroke characteristics, or baseline dysphagia severity. Patients treated with tDCS showed greater improvement in FEDSS than the sham group (1.3 vs 0.4 points, mean difference = 0.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.4-1.4, p < 0.0005). Functional recovery was accompanied by a significant increase of activation (p < 0.05) in the contralesional swallowing network after real but not sham tDCS. Regarding predictors of treatment success, for every hour earlier that treatment was initiated, there was greater improvement on the FEDSS (adjusted odds ratio = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.98-1.00, p < 0.05) in multivariate analysis. Stroke location in the right insula and operculum was indicative of worse response to tDCS (p < 0.05). Application of tDCS over the contralesional swallowing motor cortex supports swallowing network reorganization, thereby leading to faster rehabilitation of acute poststroke dysphagia. Early treatment initiation seems beneficial. tDCS may be less effective in right-hemispheric insulo-opercular stroke. Ann Neurol 2018;83:328-340.

Abstract TP319: Early Feeding Post G-tube Insertion is Safe in Stroke Patients

Introduction: Initiation of tube feeding (TF) via gastrostomy tube (G-tube) after insertion in dysphagic stroke patients is often delayed per physician preference with delayed feeding (DF) initiated at 12-24 hours being a common practice. Guidelines suggest that initiation of G-tube feeding (EF) within 4 hours after insertion is safe and does not lead to more complications. The stroke and interventional radiology (IR) physicians at a comprehensive stroke center agreed to an EF guideline in April 2016 and changed the post-insertion G-tube feed initiation time in all stroke patients from 24 hours to 6 hours. A year after, we conducted this retrospective study to understand the impact of EF guideline on TF timings. Methods: All stroke patients that had G-tubes placed by IR between April 2015 and April 2017 were eligible for inclusion in the study. Patients with non-stroke diagnoses were excluded, as were those whose tube feeds were never initiated. In addition to TF timings, data regarding complications and reasons for guideline deviation were recorded. Descriptive analyses were done for continuous and categorical variables. Results: Compared to pre-protocol patients (n= 37), the TF initiation time in EF group (n= 47, range 5-51 hours) decreased by 11.5 hours after institution of EF guidelines (25.8 hrs vs 14.2 hrs, p &lt; 0.0001 ). Only eight patients (17%) had TFs started by 6 hours, while twenty-one (44%) had TF started by 10 hours. There was a nonsignificant increase in complications after protocol initiation: 8 patients (17%) in the protocol group vs 4 (11%) in the pre-protocol group (OR = 1.69, 0.47 - 6.13, 95% CI). In five of eight patients in the protocol group who developed complications, TFs were initiated after 12 hours. No death was noted on account of EF. No significant difference in length of stay was noted. Delays in TF initiation were mostly due to failure to write appropriate orders (n=8) and less often for worsening in clinical status due to insertion related (n=2) or unrelated (n=2) complications. Conclusions: TF initiation time can be significantly improved with institution of an EF guideline without any significant increase in complications. With education, guideline compliance can be improved further.

The effect of modified catheter balloon dilatation therapy on corticobulbar excitability in dysphagic brainstem stroke patients

Objective To explore the effect of the modified balloon dilatation on excitability of the submental swallowing muscle and its relationship with swallowing function of dysphagic patients with brainstem stroke. Methods Thirty unilateral brainstem stroke patients with upper esophageal sphincter (UES) dysfunction were recruited and randomly divided into a dilatation group and a control group, each of 15. The control group was given the routine swallowing therapy twice daily, while the dilatation group was provided one routine swallowing treatment plus a modified balloon dilatation daily. The treatment lasted 3 weeks, 30min per day and 5 days per week. Both groups were evaluated using the bilateral submental motor evoked potentials (SMEPs), penetration-aspiration scale (PAS) and functional oral intake scale (FOIS) before and after treatment. Results Repeated analysis of variance showed that there was significant interaction effect of group, time on SMEPs. The MEPs of the affected submental muscle increased significantly in both groups after treatment (P<0.01), but only the amplitude of SMEP of the affected submental muscles in the dilatation group was higher than that of the control group after treatment (P<0.05). In the dilatation group, the average FOIS score increased significantly (P<0.01), while the average PAS score decreased significantly after the treatment (P<0.05). An increase of amplitude of the affected SMEP was strongly correlated with the improvement in the average PAS score (P<0.01, r=0.815), but weakly correlated with the average FOIS score (P=0.02, r=0.43). Conclusion The modified balloon dilatation therapy can increase the excitability of the cortical-affected lateral brainstem-swallowing muscle pathway in patients with unilateral brainstem stroke, which might be more correlated with improvement in swallowing safety. Key words: Brainstem stroke; Dysphagia; Balloon dilatation therapy; Neuroplasticity