Dysphagiemanagement beim akuten Schlaganfall

Pneumonia, Mortality, and Other Outcomes Associated with Unsafe Swallowing Detected via Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) in Patients with Functional Oropharyngeal Dysphagia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The association between impairments in swallowing safety detected via fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and dysphagia complications has been evaluated in small studies that have not allowed obtaining precise estimates of the presence of such an association. The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of dysphagia complications associated with the detection of premature spillage, residue, penetration, and aspiration via FEES. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature were carried out. A search strategy was established using terms of controlled and free vocabulary (free text) in the PubMed, Lilacs, Embase, Medline, and Cochrane databases. The initial search in the databases identified 3545 articles, of which 321 were excluded due to duplication, 3224 were selected for review of titles and abstracts, 45 were selected for full-text review, 37 were excluded for not meeting the selection criteria, and 8 were included for the final analysis, with a total population of 1168 patients. Aspiration increased the risk of pneumonia (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.52-5.80, P = 0.001). The number of studies that have evaluated the relationship of other FEES findings with dysphagia complications was limited (≤ 3). One study found a higher risk of mortality in patients with aspiration (OR 4.08, 95% CI 1.60-10.27, P = 0.003). Another study that evaluated the risk of mortality in a combined group of penetration and aspiration found no higher risk of mortality. Penetration, residue, and premature spillage were not found to be associated with an increased risk of pneumonia, mortality, or other outcomes. Aspiration demonstrated via FEES was associated with an increased risk of pneumonia and mortality. There is insufficient evidence for the capacity of premature spillage, penetration, and residue to predict dysphagia complications.

A Prospective Validation Study of the Functional Bedside Aspiration Screen with Endoscopy: Is It Clinically Applicable in Acute Stroke?

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of the novel Functional Bedside Aspiration Screen (FBAS) to predict aspiration risk in acute stroke and to guide initial therapy needs. We conducted a prospective validation study of the FBAS 10-point scale in 101 acute ischemic stroke patients. Outcome measures were compared with the Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS) via the Flexible Endoscopic Swallowing Study. Correlations with the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) and the Therapy Requirement Scale (TRS) were analyzed. We observed a 65.8% sensitivity and 70.2% specificity (p = 0.004) for predicting penetration risk (for PAS score ≥ 3) and a 73% sensitivity and 62% specificity for predicting aspiration risk (PAS score ≥ 6). For patients with a modified ranking scale 0-2 (n = 44) on admission, the predictive measurements of the FBAS yielded sensitivity and specificity values of 66.7% and 88.6% (p = 0.011). A significant negative correlation was found with PAS measurements, whereas a positive correlation was observed regarding FOIS. Significantly lower FBAS scores were observed in patients with high requirements for therapeutic interventions and dietary modification. FBAS may be regarded as an alternative time-efficient clinical support tool in settings in which instrumentation is not directly accessible. Further studies including a larger cohort of acute stroke patients with more severe neurological deficits are necessary.

Effects of vitamin C stimulation on rehabilitation of dysphagia after stroke: a randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Stroke is a clinical syndrome of localized or global brain dysfunction caused by cerebrovascular disease.

AIM

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of vitamin C acid stimulation on the rehabilitation process, Nourishment State Index and immune function indicators of stroke patients with dysphagia.

DESIGN

This is a prospective cohort study.

SETTING

This study was conducted at our hospital.

POPULATION

We analyzed stroke patients with dysphagia.

METHODS

A total of 120 stroke patients with dysphagia were randomly divided into a routine group and a test group, with 60 cases in each group. Routine swallowing training was performed in the routine group, and the test group was stimulated with vitamin C acid. The water swallow test (WST) and video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) were used to compare the rehabilitation of dysphagia in the two groups. Nourishment State Index was evaluated by BMI, serum albumin, total serum protein and hemoglobin. Immune Function Index was evaluated by IgA, IgM and IgG.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the WST level of patients treated with vitamin C acid stimulation intervention were significantly reduced, and the VFSS score were significantly increased. Serum levels of hemoglobin, albumin, total protein, IgA, IgM and IgG in the vitamin C acid stimulation group were remarkably increased than those in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin C acid stimulation exhibits a good application effect in patients with dysphagia after stroke. Moreover, vitamin C acid stimulation can further improve the nutritional status and immune function after stroke and promote postoperative recovery of patients. Therefore, we believe that vitamin C stimulation therapy can be widely used in stroke rehabilitation management.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT

Vitamin C acid stimulation significantly improves rehabilitation of stroke patients with dysphagia and ameliorates the nutritional status and immune function of patients.

Evaluation of the Chinese version of the swallowing screen in stroke patients with dysphagia

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to validate a Chinese version of the modified Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA) instrument used by nurses in stroke patients with dysphagia and explore the feasibility of the simplified instrument.

Materials and Methods:

This study involved a cross-sectional design. Nurses independently applied the modified SSA to 127 patients with stroke before a complete dysphagia evaluation conducted by a speech–language pathologist. Factor analysis of eight dysphagia variables in the modified SSA was performed to evaluate construct validity. The accuracy of the screening instrument was assessed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Results:

The comprehensive swallowing assessment revealed that 49.6% of the stroke patients had dysphagia. The modified SSA had an acceptable internal consistency coefficient. The inter-rater agreement between nurses using the modified SSA showed a Kappa coefficient of 0.509. All items had a communality loading of >0.5, and two factors accounted for 73.89% of the response variance. The area under the ROC curve was 0.79 (95% confidence interval: 0.71–0.87). The sensitivity and specificity derived for dysphagia detection were satisfactory according to the results obtained from the original 8-item and simplified 6-item scales (sensitivities = 82.50% and 81.00% and specificities = 59.40% and 64.10%, respectively; accuracy = 70.87% and 72.44%, respectively).

Conclusion:

This preliminary study suggests that the modified SSA is a potentially reliable and valid nurse-administered screening instrument for dysphagia detection in patients with stroke.

Adjustment of oral diet based on flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) in acute stroke patients: a cross-sectional hospital-based registry study

BACKGROUND

Diagnosing dysphagia in acute stroke patients is crucial, as this comorbidity determines morbidity and mortality; we therefore investigated the impact of flexible nasolaryngeal endoscopy (FEES) in acute stroke patients.

METHODS

The FEES investigation as performed in acute stroke patients treated at a large university hospital, allocated as a standard procedure for all patients suspected of dysphagia. We correlated our findings with baseline data, disability status, pneumonia, duration of hospitalisation, necessity for mechanical ventilation and treatment on the intensive care unit. The study was designed as a cross-sectional hospital-based registry.

RESULTS

We investigated 152 patients. The median age was 73; 94 were male. Ischemic stroke was diagnosed in 125 patients (82.2%); 27 (17.8%) suffered intracerebral haemorrhage. Oropharyngeal dysphagia was diagnosed in 72.4% of the patients, and was associated with higher stroke severity on admission (median NIHSS 11 [IQR 6-17] vs. 7 [4-12], p = .013; median mRS 5 [IQR 4-5] vs. 4 [IQR 3-5], p = .012). Short-term mortality was higher among patients diagnosed with dysphagia (7.2% vs. 0%, p = .107). FEES examinations revealed that only 30.9% of the patients had an oral diet appropriate for their swallowing abilities. A change of oral diet was associated with a better outcome at discharge (mRS; p = .006), less need of mechanical ventilation (p = .028), shorter period of hospitalisation (p = .044), and lower rates of pneumonia (p = .007) and mortality (p = .011).

CONCLUSION

Due to the inability of clinical assessments to detect silent aspiration, FEES might be better suited to identify stroke patients at risk and may contribute to a better functional outcome and lower rates of pneumonia and mortality. Our findings also point to a low awareness of dysphagia, even in a specialised stroke centre. FEES in acute stroke patients helps to adjust the oral diet for the vast majority of stroke patients (69.1%) based on their swallowing abilities, potentially avoiding severe complications.

[Nurse-performed screening to identify dysphagia for neurological patients]

Nurse-performed screening to identify dysphagia for neurological patients Abstract. Background: Dysphagia is often underestimated, although it can have serious consequences if it is not treated. In the literature a multidisciplinary approach is often recommended in the diagnosis of dysphagia, with care playing an increasingly major role. A quick and easy assessment of the risk of dysphagia is absolutely essential. Aim: Identification of screening tools for the detection of neurogenic dysphagia by nurses and to describe the psychometric characteristics. Method: A literature review was carried out in 2017 between June and the end of July, resulting in 14 included studies. Results: A total of seven screening tools were identified. Due to its good practicability and psychometric properties, the RBWH DST appears to be particularly suitable for the use of screening in the nursing context, especially when the studies are given differentiated consideration. Conclusion: The relevant validation of already existing tools, aimed at creating a standard for the early detection of dysphagia, is not yet available. When this is concluded, the nursing staff need to be trained in the correct use of the tools.

Frequency of post-stroke pneumonia: Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Background

Post-stroke pneumonia and other infectious complications are serious conditions whose frequency varies widely across studies.

Aims

We conducted a systematic review to estimate the frequency of post-stroke pneumonia and other types of major infection.

Summary of review

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases were searched for prospective studies with consecutive recruitment of stroke patients. The primary outcome was post-stroke pneumonia. Secondary outcomes were any infection and urinary tract infection. Quality assessment was done using Newcastle Ottawa scale. Heterogeneity of estimates across study populations was calculated using Cochran's Q (heterogeneity χ2) and I2 statistics. A total of 47 studies (139,432 patients) with 48 sample populations were eligible for inclusion. Mean age of patients was 68.3 years and their mean National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score was 8.2. The pooled frequency of post-stroke pneumonia was 12.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 11%–13.6%; I2 = 98%). The pooled frequency from 2011 to 2017 was 13.5% (95% CI 11.8%–15.3%; I2 = 98%) and comparable with earlier periods (P interaction = 0.31). The pooled frequency in studies in stroke units was 8% (95% CI 7.1%–9%; I2 = 78%) and significantly lower than other locations (P interaction = 0.001). The pooled frequency of post-stroke infection was 21% (95% CI 13%–29.3%; I2 = 99%) and of post-stroke urinary tract infection was 7.9% (95% CI 6.7%–9.3%; I2 = 96%).

Conclusion

Approximately 1 in 10 stroke patients experience pneumonia during the acute period of hospital care. The frequency of post-stroke pneumonia has remained stable in recent decades but is lower in patients receiving stroke unit care compared to management in other ward settings.