Reduced Tongue Pressure Against the Hard Palate on the Paralyzed Side During Swallowing Predicts Dysphagia in Patients With Acute Stroke

Abstract

Background and Purpose-Dysphagia is important for prognosis in patients with stroke because this condition can cause aspiration pneumonia or nutritional deficits. The present study investigated the relationship between tongue motor deficits and dysphagia in patients with acute stroke. Methods-Maximal tongue pressure on the hard palate when swallowing 5 mL of water was measured using a T-shaped sensor sheet with 5 measuring points in 33 dysphagic and 31 nondysphagic patients with acute stroke. Maximum tongue pressures at each measuring point were compared between dysphagic and nondysphagic groups and between paralyzed and nonparalyzed sides. Results-Tongue pressure at each measuring point was significantly smaller in dysphagic patients than in nondysphagic patients with the largest significant difference on the paralyzed side. The magnitude of tongue pressure to predict dysphagia was calculated as 4.6 kPa on the paralyzed side, offering 71.4% sensitivity and 72.3% specificity. Conclusions-Reduced tongue pressure on the paralyzed side may predict dysphagia in patients with acute stroke. (Stroke.

Prediction of Pneumonia in Acute Stroke Patients Using Tongue Pressure Measurements

“…Tongue pressure has been reported as low on the paralyzed side using sensor sheets in acute stroke patients [10]. In this method, a sensor sheet is attached to the hard palate of patients, and a water-swallowing test is performed.…”

“…Tongue pressure has been associated with the presence of oro-pharyngeal residue using videofluoroscopic examination [9]. In a water-swallowing test, tongue pressure was found to be significantly lower in dysphagic patients than in non-dysphagic patients [10]. Using a non-invasive, easy-to-use tongue pressure measurement tool is an advantage.…”

Fatores associados à pressão de língua em pacientes pós-acidente vascular cerebral

“…Studies with post-stroke patients (6,18,19) also found that the mean and maximum tongue pressure was significantly lower in the dysphagia group. Thus, the decrease in tongue pressure observed in some cases of stroke was basically associated with the presence of dysphagia.…”

Coordination in oro-pharyngeal biomechanics during human swallowing

“…We previously developed a sensor sheet for measuring tongue pressure at five points on the hard palate [12], and tongue pressure in healthy elderly subjects [13] and stroke patients with dysphagia [14,15] were precisely measured. In addition to a sensor sheet system for assessing the oral stage of swallowing, a bend sensor system that is useful for obtaining the temporal aspects of laryngeal movement synchronized with hyoid motion during swallowing was also established successfully [16].…”