[Acupoint injection combined with Vitalstim electrical stimulation for post-stroke dysphagia:a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint injection combined with Vitalstim electrical stimulation for post-stroke dysphagia.

METHODS

A total of 98 patients with dysphagia after first stroke were randomized into an acupoint injection group (35 cases, 2 cases dropped off), an electrical stimulation group (31 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a combination group (32 cases, 3 cases dropped off). Injection of mecobalamin into point, Vitalstim electrical stimulation and the combination of injection of mecobalamin into point and Vitalstim electrical stimulation were applied respectively in the 3 groups, once a day, 10 times as one course, 2 courses were required. Before and after treatment, the tongue muscle thickness and video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) score were observed in the 3 groups.

RESULTS

After treatment, the tongue muscle thickness was decreased (<0.05), the VFSS scores were increased (<0.05) compared with before treatment in the 3 groups, and the variation of tongue muscle thickness and VFSS score in the combination group was greater than the acupoint injection group and the electrical stimulation group (<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Both acupoint injection of mecobalamin and Vitalstim electrical stimulation have therapeutic effect on dysphagia after stroke, and the two have synergistic effect.