Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS) for Facilitating Swallowing Improvement After an Acute Unilateral Hemispheric Stroke

Beth Israel Lahey Health

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2; Phase 1

Conditions: Dysphagia

Treatments: Other: Sham; Other: tDCS

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01132066

2007P-000102

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the research study is to investigate the effect of a brain stimulation technique called Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS) in improving swallowing functions in subjects who develop dysphagia after a unilateral hemispheric infarction.

Enrollment: 19 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Acute ischemic stroke
• Between 24-168 hours after onset
• Moderate to severe dysphagia based on swallowing assessment

Exclusion criteria

• Preexisting swallowing impairment
• Intracerebral hemorrhage
• Pacemaker of other electrically sensitive device

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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19 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

tDCS

Experimental group

Description:

tDCS will provide an increase in cortical excitability. Patients will be randomized to receive tDCS or sham stimulation.

Treatment:

Other: tDCS

sham

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Sham stimulation will provide identical subjective sensation as anodal tDCS.

Treatment:

Other: Sham