Electroacupuncture for post-stroke dysphagia

Abstract

Background: Post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) requires effective treatment as it may cause aspiration pneumonia, dehydration, or malnutritution, which can increase the length of hospital stay as well as mortality. In the field of stroke, electroacupuncture (EA) has been widely used, and a number of clinical research papers have been published regarding its effects. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of EA for the treatment of PSD. Methods: Randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of EA in PSD will be included in this meta-analysis. The following electronic databases will be searched from inception to July 31, 2020, using terms relating to EA and PSD: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, the Excerpta Medica Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Korean Medical Database, KoreaMed, the National Digital Science Library, and the Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System. Two reviewers will independently search these databases, select studies for inclusion, and evaluate the quality of the studies. Methodological quality will be assessed using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (version 6.0). The primary outcome will be the total effective rate; secondary outcomes will include results of other assessments of dysphagia such as the water drinking test scale and videofluoroscopic swallowing study. We will also investigate the number and severity of adverse events. The Cochrane Review Manager (RevMan) software (version 5.3.5) will be employed to assess bias risk, data integration risk, and meta-analysis risk. Mean difference and standardized mean difference will be used to represent continuous data, while risk ratios will be used for pooled binary data. Results: This study will provide a comprehensive review and evaluation of the available evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of EA as a treatment for PSD. Conclusion: This study will clarify whether EA could be an effective and safe treatment for PSD.

Effect of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on the Nutritional Status and Neurological Function of Patients With Postischemic Stroke Dysphagia

“…Dysphagia can affect food intake and nutrient absorption and can also lead to aspiration pneumonia after food inhalation into trachea, which can be life-threatening in severe cases. 2 Though dysphagia after stroke is very common, its treatments and efficacy evaluation methods are very limited now. 11 At present, swallowing training is the most commonly used intervention method for dysphagia, which can help patients know swallowing movements and gradually restore swallowing function through training swallowing-related muscles.…”

“…Research has showed that > 50% of stroke patients experience dysphagia of varying degrees. 1,2 Dysphagia leads to coughing or accidental swallowing and increases the risks of malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia. It also extends hospital stay and causes extra charges, seriously compromising the life qualities and prognoses of stroke patients, even increasing mortality.…”

“…It also extends hospital stay and causes extra charges, seriously compromising the life qualities and prognoses of stroke patients, even increasing mortality. [2][3][4] Improving swallowing function can increase the long-term survival rate of patients with dysphagia after stroke. 5 Therefore, exploring effective treatments of postischemic stroke dysphagia to improve patients' nutrition and neurological function has become a focus of stroke treatment research.…”

“…Cerebral infarction is an ischemic stroke with high incidence, disability rate, and mortality, and it is commonly accompanied by postischemic stroke dysphagia. Research has showed that >50% of stroke patients experience dysphagia of varying degrees 1,2. Dysphagia leads to coughing or accidental swallowing and increases the risks of malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia.…”

“…Dysphagia leads to coughing or accidental swallowing and increases the risks of malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia. It also extends hospital stay and causes extra charges, seriously compromising the life qualities and prognoses of stroke patients, even increasing mortality 2–4. Improving swallowing function can increase the long-term survival rate of patients with dysphagia after stroke 5.…”