[Lateral needling at Lianquan (CV 23) for post-stroke dysphagia: a randomized controlled trial]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of lateral needling at Lianquan (CV 23) for post-stroke dysphagia, and explore its mechanism.

METHODS

A total of 64 patients with post-stroke dysphagia were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 32 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with conventional basic treatment. The observation group was treated with lateral needling at CV 23, without needle retaining, once a day. The control group was treated with swallowing rehabilitation training, once a day. Both groups were treated for 5 days a week, with 2 days interval, 1 week as one course and 4 courses were required. Before and after treatment, the Kubota water swallowing test grade and standardized swallowing assessment (SSA) score were compared in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) was used to measure the hyoid bone movement displacement and pharyngeal delivery time in the observation group.

RESULTS

Compared before treatment, the Kubota water swallowing test grade after treatment was improved in the two groups (P<0.05), and the observation group was superior to the control group (P<0.05); the SSA scores after treatment were decreased in the two groups (P<0.05), and the observation group was lower than the control group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, the hyoid bone movement displacement was increased and pharyngeal delivery time was shortened after treatment in the observation group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Lateral needling at CV 23 could improve dysphagia symptoms in patients with post-stroke dysphagia, its mechanism may be related to the increasing of hyoid bone movement displacement and shortening of pharyngeal delivery time.

[Clinical study of electroacupuncture with different frequencies at Lianquan (CV 23) and Fengfu (GV 16) for stroke dysphagia]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) with different frequencies based on the western conventional treatment and rehabilita tion training for stroke dysphagia.

METHODS

Sixty patients with dysphagia after stroke were randomized assigned into a low frequency (2 Hz) group and a high frequency (100 Hz) group, 30 cases in each one. Basic treatment was applied in the two groups. The acupoints were Fengfu (GV 16) and Lianquan (CV 23). EA with continuous wave and tolerant intensity were connected for 30 min, once a day for 14 days. The main index was video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) to detect passing time at oral stage, pharynx delay time at pharyngeal stage, passing time at pharynx stage. The second indexes were water swallow test rating and standardized swallowing assessment (SSA). The clinical effect was evaluated.

RESULTS

After treatment, the passing time at oral stage, pharynx delay time at pharyngeal stage, passing time at pharynx stage were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (all P <0.05), and the results in the low frequency group were better (all P <0.05). After treatment, the water swallow test rating improved in the two groups (both P<0.05), and that in the low frequency group was better (P<0.05). The SSA score decreased in the two groups (both P<0.05), and the improvement in the lower frequency group was superior to that in the high frequency group (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the low frequency group was 93.3% (28/30), which was better than 66.7% (20/30) in the high frequency group (P<0.05). .

CONCLUSION

The effect of EA with lower frequency is better than that of EA with higher frequency for stroke dysphagia.