| Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of VitalStim Electrical Stimulator combined with swallowing function training in the treatment of dysphagia in patients with hepatolenticular degeneration.Methods: According to the random number table method, 60 hospitalized patients with hepatolenticular degeneration complicated with dysphagia in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine were divided into control group and experimental group, 30 cases in each group. The control group was only given conventional copper expelling therapy, while the experimental group was given neuromuscular electrical stimulation and swallowing function training on the basis of conventional copper expelling therapy.GUSS scale, WST test and VFSS were used to evaluate the improvement of swallowing function in 2 groups on the first day of treatment and at the end of 4 weeks of treatment, respectively. Meanwhile, ELISA was used to compare the changes of serum IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α before and after treatment. Observe the occurrence of adverse reactions whileevaluating the clinical efficacy of patients. Results: After treatment, GUSS score and VFSS score in 2 groups were significantly increased as compared with those before tre-atment, with statistical significance (P<0.05); WST score was decreased as compared with that before treatment, with statistical significance (P<0.05). The GUSS score and VFSS score were higher and the WST score was lower in the experimental group than in the control group after treatment, and differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The serum levels of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α in hepatolenticular degeneration were significantly increased, and the levels of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α in both groups were decreased after treatment as compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). The levels of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α in the experimental group were significantly decreased as compared with those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the effective rate in the experimental group was 83.3%, significantly higher than that in the control group (66.7%). Conclusion: Vitalstim electrical stimulation instrument combined with swallowing function training can effectively improve the swallowing function of patients with hepatolenticular degeneration with swallowing disorder, reduce the occurrence of aspiration and infection, and greatly improve the quality of life of patients. |
