Project description:Background:Dysphagia is a common problem in acute stroke patient. Aspiration pneumonia increases in this group. Swallowing therapy is immediately conducted in a stable stroke patient. An effectiveness of our program has not been determined. Objective:To determine an effectiveness of conventional swallowing therapy in acute stroke patients with dysphagia. Methods:We retrospectively reviewed data from medical records of acute stroke patients with dysphagia who participated a swallowing therapy from January 2017 to June 2017. Fifty-seven acute stroke patients with dysphagia (26 males and 31 females) were participating in a conventional swallowing therapy (50 minutes a day for 3 days per week). A functional oral intake scale (FOIS) and swallow function scoring system (SFSS) were used to determine an effectiveness of the swallowing therapy. FOIS and SFSS scores before the first therapy session and after the last therapy session were compared using a paired t-test. Results:The mean age of the patient was 69.5 ± 15.35 years. The period from stroke onset to the first swallowing therapy session was 7.5 ± 6.69 days. The number of therapy was 5.6 ± 2.83 sessions. Participants showed a significant improvement of the FOIS (mean score increased from 1.74 to 3.30 points, P = 0.001) and SFSS (mean score increased from 2.51 to 3.68 points, P = 0.001). Forty-two percent of patients with tube dependent change to total oral intake. Conclusion:Conventional swallowing therapy is an effective treatment in acute stroke with dysphagia.
Project description:Background and purposeSpontaneous swallowing frequency has been described as an index of dysphagia in various health conditions. This study evaluated the potential of spontaneous swallow frequency analysis as a screening protocol for dysphagia in acute stroke.MethodsIn a cohort of 63 acute stroke cases, swallow frequency rates (swallows per minute [SPM]) were compared with stroke and swallow severity indices, age, time from stroke to assessment, and consciousness level. Mean differences in SPM were compared between patients with versus without clinically significant dysphagia. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to identify the optimal threshold in SPM, which was compared with a validated clinical dysphagia examination for identification of dysphagia cases. Time series analysis was used to identify the minimally adequate time period to complete spontaneous swallow frequency analysis.ResultsSPM correlated significantly with stroke and swallow severity indices but not with age, time from stroke onset, or consciousness level. Patients with dysphagia demonstrated significantly lower SPM rates. SPM differed by dysphagia severity. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis yielded a threshold of SPM≤0.40 that identified dysphagia (per the criterion referent) with 0.96 sensitivity, 0.68 specificity, and 0.96 negative predictive value. Time series analysis indicated that a 5- to 10-minute sampling window was sufficient to calculate spontaneous swallow frequency to identify dysphagia cases in acute stroke.ConclusionsSpontaneous swallowing frequency presents high potential to screen for dysphagia in acute stroke without the need for trained, available personnel.
Project description:BackgroundDysphagia following stroke is prevalent; however, dysphagia treatment is often applied haphazardly and outcomes unclear. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has received increased attention as a treatment for post-stroke dysphagia; but application data remain conflicted.ObjectiveThis study investigated effectiveness and safety of an exercise-based swallowing therapy (McNeill Dysphagia Therapy: MDTP) +NMES for dysphagia rehabilitation following stroke.MethodsStroke patients (n = 53, x̅ age: 66 [13.2], 47.2% male) with dysphagia admitted to sub-acute rehabilitation hospital were randomised to MDTP + NMES [NMES], MDTP + sham NMES [MDTP] or usual care [UC] swallowing therapy groups. Patients were treated for 1 hour per day for 3 weeks and monitored to 3 months by a blinded evaluator. Outcomes included clinical swallowing ability, oral intake, weight, patient perception of swallow and occurrence of dysphagia-related complications.ResultsPost-treatment dysphagia severity and treatment response were significantly different between groups (P ≤ .0001). MDTP demonstrated greater positive change than either NMES or UC arms, including increase in oral intake (χ2 = 5, P ≤ .022) and improved functional outcome by 3 months post-stroke (RR = 1.72, 1.04-2.84). Exploratory Cox regression revealed the MDTP group conferred the greatest benefit in time to "return to pre-stroke diet" of 4.317 [95% CI: 1.08- 17.2, P< .03].ConclusionGreater benefit (eg reduction in dysphagia severity, improved oral intake and earlier return to pre-stroke diet) resulted from a programme of MDTP alone vs NMES or UC.
Project description:PurposePost-stroke dysphagia is an underdiagnosed but relevant complication, associated with worse outcome, dependency and quality of life of stroke survivors. Detailed mechanisms of post-stroke dysphagia are not very well understood, but established therapeutic concepts are needed. Different interventional studies have been published dealing with post-stroke dysphagia. This systematic review wants to collect and give an overview over the published evidence.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL were searched for relevant interventional studies on post-stroke dysphagia in the (sub-)acute setting (within 3 months of stroke onset). The search has been filtered for randomized trials with an inactive control and the relevant data extracted.ResultsAfter initially finding 2,863 trials, finally 41 trials have been included. Seven different therapeutic concepts have been evaluated (Acupuncture, behavioral/physical therapy, drug therapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, pharyngeal electrical stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation). Studies of all modalities have shown some effect on post-stroke dysphagia with several studies raising concerns about the potential bias.ConclusionThe amount and quality of studies are not enough to suggest certain therapies. Some therapeutical concepts (intensive physical therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, drug therapy) seem to be good potential therapeutic options, but further research is needed.
Project description:Background: Early detection and intervention for post-stroke dysphagia could reduce the incidence of pulmonary complications and mortality. The aims of this study were to investigate the benefits of swallowing therapy in swallowing function and brain neuro-plasticity and to explore the relationship between swallowing function recovery and neuroplasticity after swallowing therapy in cerebral and brainstem stroke patients with dysphagia. Methods: We collected 17 subacute stroke patients with dysphagia (11 cerebral stroke patients with a median age of 76 years and 6 brainstem stroke patients with a median age of 70 years). Each patient received swallowing therapies during hospitalization. For each patient, functional oral intake scale (FOIS), functional dysphagia scale (FDS) and 8-point penetration-aspiration scale (PAS) in videofluoroscopy swallowing study (VFSS), and brain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were evaluated before and after treatment. Results: FOIS (p = 0.003 in hemispheric group and p = 0.039 in brainstem group) and FDS (p = 0.006 in hemispheric group and p = 0.028 in brainstem group) were both significantly improved after treatment in hemispheric and brainstem stroke patients. In hemispheric stroke patients, changes in FOIS were related to changes of functional brain connectivity in the ventral default mode network (vDMN) of the precuneus in brain functional MRI (fMRI). In brainstem stroke patients, changes in FOIS were related to changes of functional brain connectivity in the left sensorimotor network (LSMN) of the left postcentral region characterized by brain fMRI. Conclusion: Both hemispheric and brainstem stroke patients with different swallowing difficulties showed improvements after swallowing training. For these two dysphagic stroke groups with corresponding etiologies, swallowing therapy could contribute to different functional neuroplasticity.
Project description:BackgroundDysphagia has been reported to be associated with the descent of the hyolaryngeal complex. Further, suprahyoid muscles play a greater role than infrahyoid muscles in elevation of the hyolarngeal complex. Respiratory muscle training (RMT) can improve lung function, and expiratory muscle strength training can facilitate elevation of the hyoid bone and increase the motor unit recruitment of submental muscles during normal swallowing. This study aimed to investigate the surface electromyography (sEMG) of the swallowing muscles, bilaterally, and the effect of RMT on swallowing muscles in stroke patients with respiratory muscle weakness.MethodsForty patients with first episode of unilateral stroke were included in this retrospective controlled trial. After exclusion of 11 patients with respiratory muscle strength stronger than 70% of the predicted value, 15 were allocated to the RMT group and 14 to the control group. However, eventually, 11 patients in RMT group and 11 patients in control group completed the study. The sEMG of the orbicularis oris, masseter, submental, and infrahyoid muscles were recorded during dry swallowing, water swallowing (2 mL), and forced exhalation against a threshold breathing trainer set at different intensities, at baseline and after 6-week RMT.ResultsRegarding the sEMG of submental muscles, there were significant between-group differences on the latency of the unaffected side (P = .048), significant change from baseline force on the unaffected side (P = .035), and significant between-side difference (P = .011) in the RMT group during dry swallowing. Significant change in the duration from baseline was observed on the affected side of the RMT group when blowing was set at 50% maximal expiratory pressure (MEP; P = .015), and on the unaffected side of the control group when blowing set at 15% MEP (P = .005). Significant difference was observed in the duration between 50% MEP and 15% MEP after 6-week program in the control group (P = .049).ConclusionsA 6-week RMT can improve the electric signal of the affected swallowing muscles with more effect on the unaffected side than on the affected side during dry swallowing. Furthermore, RMT with 50% MEP rather than 15% MEP can facilitate greater submental muscle activity on the affected side in stroke patients with respiratory muscle weakness.
Project description:Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is a frequent complication after stroke (PSOD) that increases morbidity and mortality. Early detection of PSOD is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with acute stroke. In recent years, an association between reduced spontaneous swallowing frequency (SSF) and OD has been described. Likewise, the reduction of saliva substance P (SP) concentration has been associated with an increased risk of aspiration and a decrease in SSF. In this study we aimed to compare SSF, salivary SP concentration, hydration and nutritional status in post-stroke (PS) patients with and without OD. We included 45 acute PS patients (4.98 ± 2.80 days from stroke onset, 62.22% men, 71.78 ± 13.46 year). The Volume-Viscosity Swallowing Test (V-VST) was performed for clinical diagnosis of OD. SSF/minute was assessed through 10-min neurophysiological surface recordings including suprahyoid-electromyography and cricothyroid-accelerometry. Saliva samples were collected with a Salivette® to determine SP by ELISA. Hydration status was assessed by bioimpedance. Nutritional status was evaluated by Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-sf) and blood analysis. Twenty-seven PS patients (60%) had OD; 19 (40%), impaired safety of swallow. SSF was significantly reduced in PSOD, 0.23 ± 0.18 and PSOD with impaired safety, 0.22 ± 0.18 vs 0.48 ± 0.29 swallows/minute in PS without OD (PSnOD); (both p < 0.005). Nutritional risk was observed in 62.92% PSOD vs 11.11% PSnOD (p = 0.007) and visceral protein markers were also significantly reduced in PSOD (p < 0.05). Bioimpedance showed intracellular dehydration in 37.50% PSOD vs none in PSnOD. There were no differences for saliva SP concentrations. SSF is significantly reduced in PSOD in comparison with PSnOD. Acute PSOD patients present poor nutritional status, hydropenia, and high risk for respiratory complications.
Project description:Post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) is present in more than 50% of acute stroke patients, increases the risk of complications, in particular aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition and dehydration, and is linked to poor outcome and mortality. The aim of this guideline is to assist all members of the multidisciplinary team in their management of patients with PSD. These guidelines were developed based on the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) standard operating procedure and followed the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. An interdisciplinary working group identified 20 relevant questions, performed systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the literature, assessed the quality of the available evidence and wrote evidence-based recommendations. Expert opinion was provided if not enough evidence was available to provide recommendations based on the GRADE approach. We found moderate quality of evidence to recommend dysphagia screening in all stroke patients to prevent post-stroke pneumonia and to early mortality and low quality of evidence to suggest dysphagia assessment in stroke patients having been identified at being at risk of PSD. We found low to moderate quality of evidence for a variety of treatment options to improve swallowing physiology and swallowing safety. These options include dietary interventions, behavioural swallowing treatment including acupuncture, nutritional interventions, oral health care, different pharmacological agents and different types of neurostimulation treatment. Some of the studied interventions also had an impact on other clinical endpoints such as feedings status or pneumonia. Overall, further randomized trials are needed to improve the quality of evidence for the treatment of PSD.
Project description:Background and purposeSwallowing screens after acute stroke identify those patients who do not need a formal swallowing evaluation and who can safely take food and medications by mouth. We conducted a systematic review to identify swallowing screening protocols that met basic requirements for reliability, validity, and feasibility.MethodsWe searched MEDLINE and supplemented results with references identified through other databases, journal tables of contents, and bibliographies. All relevant references were reviewed and evaluated with specific criteria.ResultsOf 35 protocols identified, 4 met basic quality criteria. These 4 had high sensitivities of ≥87% and high negative predictive values of ≥91% when a formal swallowing evaluation was used as the gold standard. Two protocols had greater sample sizes and more extensive reliability testing than the others.ConclusionsWe identified only 4 swallowing screening protocols for patients with acute stroke that met basic criteria. Cost-effectiveness of screening, including costs associated with false-positive results and impact of screening on morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay, requires elucidation.
Project description:IntroductionPost-stroke dysphagia is common and associated with significant morbidity and mortality, rendering bedside screening of significant clinical importance. Using voice as a biomarker coupled with deep learning has the potential to improve patient access to screening and mitigate the subjectivity associated with detecting voice change, a component of several validated screening protocols.MethodsIn this single-center study, we developed a proof-of-concept model for automated dysphagia screening and evaluated the performance of this model on training and testing cohorts. Patients were admitted to a comprehensive stroke center, where primary English speakers could follow commands without significant aphasia and participated on a rolling basis. The primary outcome was classification either as a pass or fail equivalent using a dysphagia screening test as a label. Voice data was recorded from patients who spoke a standardized set of vowels, words, and sentences from the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale. Seventy patients were recruited and 68 were included in the analysis, with 40 in training and 28 in testing cohorts, respectively. Speech from patients was segmented into 1,579 audio clips, from which 6,655 Mel-spectrogram images were computed and used as inputs for deep-learning models (DenseNet and ConvNext, separately and together). Clip-level and participant-level swallowing status predictions were obtained through a voting method.ResultsThe models demonstrated clip-level dysphagia screening sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 77% (F1 = 0.73, AUC = 0.80 [95% CI: 0.78-0.82]). At the participant level, the sensitivity and specificity were 89 and 79%, respectively (F1 = 0.81, AUC = 0.91 [95% CI: 0.77-1.05]).DiscussionThis study is the first to demonstrate the feasibility of applying deep learning to classify vocalizations to detect post-stroke dysphagia. Our findings suggest potential for enhancing dysphagia screening in clinical settings. https://github.com/UofTNeurology/masa-open-source.