| Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for dysphagia after brainstem stroke. Methods: Forty seven stroke patients with dysphagia were randomly divided into treatment group (n=23) and control group (n=24). Basic stroke treatment, swallowing rehabilitation training, acupuncture treatment were given to both groups. In the treatment group, tDCS and anode were given alternately to stimulate the sensory region of bilateral oropharynx cortex. The control group received false stimulus with tDCS and anode. Standardized swallowing assessment (SSA), the videofluoroscophic swallowing study (VFSS) and penetration aspiration scale (PAS) were used to evaluate the patients in the two groups before and after treatment for 3 weeks. Results: Three weeks after treatment, the SSA scores in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment (all P<0.05), and the total score after treatment was significantly lower than before treatment (P<0.05). The scores of pharyngeal stage, aspiration and total score in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05), and the PAS classification in the treatment group was significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The tDCS of bilateral oropharyngeal sensory cortex can better improve swallowing function and has certain curative effect on dysphagia after brainstem stroke. |
