Neurostimulation therapies improve swallowing function in acutely ill patients with a standardized mean difference of -0.74
Neurostimulation Therapies Improve Swallowing in Critically Ill Patients
This systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluated neurostimulation therapies for dysphagia in 2198 acutely and critically ill patie…
A review of 20 studies found that neurostimulation therapies can significantly improve swallowing function in critically ill patients with d…
Systematic review and meta-analysis of NMES for post-stroke dysphagia outcomes
NMES alone does not beat standard therapy for post-stroke swallowing problems
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) alone versus NMES combined with or compared t…
A review of sixteen studies found that adding neuromuscular electrical stimulation to standard care helps, but using it alone does not impro…
Meta-analysis identifies prevalence and risk factors for postextubation dysphagia in ICU patients
One third of ICU patients face swallowing difficulties
This meta-analysis of 7,219 patients examined the prevalence and risk factors associated with postextubation dysphagia in ICU patients under…
Many people struggle to swallow after being taken off a breathing tube, especially if they are older or spent more time on the tube.
Oro-esophageal vs Nasogastric Tube Feeding in Ischemic Stroke with Dysphagia: A Protocol
New trial tests which feeding tube helps stroke best
This randomized controlled trial protocol aims to compare oro-esophageal tube feeding with nasogastric tube feeding in 422 ischemic stroke p…
A new trial compares nose versus mouth feeding tubes to see which helps stroke patients recover swallowing function faster.
Personalized swallowing rehab improves outcomes after oral cancer surgery
New Swallowing Therapy Helps Oral Cancer Patients Eat and Speak More Easily
This randomized controlled trial in 300 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma found that a personalized swallowing rehabilitation progr…
Personalized swallowing therapy helps oral cancer patients recover faster, eat more naturally, and avoid dangerous complications like pneumo…
FEES Dysphagia Index (FDI) derivation and validation in hospitalized neurological patients
A new swallowing test may better predict pneumonia risk in hospitalized brain patients
This single-center retrospective cohort study derived and validated the FEES Dysphagia Index (FDI) in 1,257 and 1,686 hospitalized neurologi…
A new swallowing score outperformed a standard measure at predicting pneumonia and death in neurological patients, offering a simpler bedsid…
Systematic review assesses performance and applicability of aspiration risk prediction models in stroke
Can doctors predict if stroke patients might breathe in food?
This systematic review evaluates prediction models for aspiration risk in adult stroke patients across 18 model development studies.
Most tools to predict if stroke patients will choke on food show promise but cannot be trusted yet because every study had serious flaws.
Active rTMS combined with rehabilitation showed greater improvement in language and swallowing outcomes compared with sham stimulation in 113 post-stroke patients
Magnetic pulses may speed stroke recovery for speech and swallowing
This sham-controlled prospective study evaluated active rTMS combined with conventional rehabilitation versus sham stimulation plus the same…
Adding brain stimulation before rehab sessions led to better recovery of two abilities stroke takes away most often — talking and eating.
Survival differed significantly among central venous access strategies for parenteral nutrition in elderly patients with dysphagia
Survival varied by central venous access type in elderly patients with swallowing difficulties
This retrospective cohort study compared survival outcomes in 73 elderly patients with dysphagia receiving parenteral nutrition via implante…
Elderly patients with swallowing difficulties who received parenteral nutrition saw survival rates differ significantly depending on their c…
Observational registry finds 29% hospital-associated disability in older Japanese rehabilitation patients
Study establishes registry tracking disability in older hospital patients
A prospective multicenter observational study of 209 patients aged ≥70 years in Japanese rehabilitation wards established a hospital-associa…
A new tracking system reveals that nearly 30% of older patients lose independence during hospital stays, while most also lose weight.
Systematic review finds predictive models for dysphagia risk in older adults show variable performance
Can we predict swallowing trouble in older adults before it happens?
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 studies in older adults found predictive models for dysphagia risk had a pooled AUC of 0.82 (95%…
A new analysis shows we might be able to spot swallowing problems in older adults before they become serious.
Neuromuscular electrostimulation plus swallowing therapy may benefit dysphagia in severely disabled MS patients
Can electrical stimulation help people with MS swallow more easily?
A randomized controlled trial in 101 people with MS and dysphagia found both traditional swallowing therapy plus neuromuscular electrostimul…
For people with advanced multiple sclerosis, adding gentle electrical stimulation to standard swallowing therapy led to significantly greate…
Questions about Dysphagia
What is the overall accuracy of models that predict dysphagia risk in older adults?
Predictive models for dysphagia risk in older adults show variable accuracy, with AUCs ranging from 0.682 to 0.926 and a pooled AUC of 0.82, but most models have high bias risk and limited external validation.
Full answer →Can a new index called FEES Dysphagia Index predict swallowing problems in hospitalized patients?
A new index called the FEES Dysphagia Index (FDI) can predict swallowing problems and pneumonia risk in hospitalized patients better than older methods.
Full answer →