Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation on Post-stroke Dysphagic Patients (EETI-01)

Hospital de Mataró

Status

Completed

Conditions

Dysphagia

Treatments

Device: VITALSTIM transcutaneous electrical stimulation

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT01363973

EETI-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD, swallowing dysfunction) is a major complaint following stroke. Despite its enormous impact on functional capacity, quality of life, and survival, OD is both underestimated and underdiagnosed as a cause of major nutritional and respiratory complications in stroke patients. A recent systematic review on the effects of rehabilitation therapy on OD concluded that although some positive effects were found, the number of studies was small, many of them had methodological problems and there was a need for further research using randomized controlled trials. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation was approved by the FDA as a treatment of dysphagia in June 2001 and is traditionally used to activate pharyngeal muscles through stimulation of peripheral motor nerves (neuromuscular electrical estimulation, NMES). However, their real effectiveness and safety in the treatment of dysphagia is still matter of discussion (Logemann Dysphagia 2007, Ludlow dysphagia 2007) and studies evaluating NMES therapy, present discordant results. On the other hand, in recent years, transcutaneous electrical stimulation is beginning to use as a sensory strategy (Gallas 2010), avoiding muscle contraction during the treatment.Our research strategy includes the assessment of the therapeutic effect of these two main strategies using transcutaneous electrical stimulation on swallow physiology and clinical outcomes of post-stroke dysphagic patients.

Enrollment

20 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Age > 18
Background of swallowing difficulties associated with stroke, more than 3 months of evolution
Study explained and signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Patients who are suspected or can not meet the protocol. patients who are participating or have participated in a trial last 4 weeks. Patients with active cancer Patients with active infectious process. patients with severe dementia or inability to communicate. patients with neurodegenerative diseases. patients with pacemakers. patients with implanted electrodes. patients with epilepsy or seizure disorders. patients with gastroesophageal reflux.