Effect of deep pharyngeal nerve stimulation on swallowing function and nutritional status in patients with dysphagia after stroke

Objective To investigate the effect of deep pharyngeal nerve stimulation on swallowing function and nutritional status of patients with dysphagia after stroke. Methods A total of 166 cases of post-stroke dysphagia patients from January, 2016 and January, 2018 in our hospital were random divided into two groups, 83 cases in each group. The control group was given rehabilitation treatment, and the observation group was treated with deep pharyngeal nerve stimulation therapy based on control group. After treatment, Putian drinking water test scores, standard swallowing function score (SSA), X-ray swallowing angiography test score (VFSS), life quality (SWAT-QOL), daily living activity (MBI), and nutritional status (Hb, ALB, PAB), aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition occurrence, and clinical efficacy of two groups were compared. Results After treatment, the drinking water test and SSA score of two groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the observation group was significantly lower than control group (P<0.05). The VFSS scores of two groups were significantly increased (P<0.05). The observation group was significantly higher than control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the SWAT-QOL and MBI scores of two groups were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the observation group was significantly higher than control group (P<0.05). After treatment, Hb, ALB and PAB levels of two groups increased significantly (P<0.05), and the observation group was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the incidence of inhalation pneumonia of observation group was 8.43%, which was significantly lower than that of the control group (19.28%), P<0.05. The incidence of malnutrition was 10.84%, which was significantly lower than that of the control group (26.51%), P<0.05. After treatment, the total effective rate was 89.17% in the observation group, which was significantly higher than 68.87% in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Deep pharyngeal nerve stimulation can significantly improve the swallowing function of patients with dysphagia after stroke, improve their daily activities and quality of life, improve their nutritional status, and reduce the occurrence of complications such as abscess pneumonia and malnutrition.