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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Intermittent Oral to Esophageal Tube on Dysphagia

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Cerebral Infarction
Interventions
Behavioral: Comprehensive rehabilitation therapy
Device: Intermittent Oro-esophageal Tube Feeding
Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation
Registration Number
NCT06265779
Lead Sponsor
Zeng Changhao
Brief Summary

The study is a double-blind randomized controlled trial, lasting for 15 days for each participant. Patients with post-stroke dysphagia who receive treatment at the Rehabilitation Department are selected as the study subjects. The patients are randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the placebo group. All patients receive routine rehabilitation therapy and swallowing rehabilitation training, along with enteral nutrition support using Intermittent Oro-esophageal Tube. In addition to these interventions, patients in the experimental group receive transcranial direct current stimulation, while the instruments used for patients in the placebo group only illuminate an indicator light without any actual effect.

Detailed Description

Transcranial direct current stimulation is currently very popular. The study is a double-blind randomized controlled trial, lasting for 15 days for each participant. Patients with post-stroke dysphagia who receive treatment at the Rehabilitation Department are selected as the study subjects. The patients are randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the placebo group. All patients receive routine rehabilitation therapy and swallowing rehabilitation training, along with enteral nutrition support using Intermittent Oro-esophageal Tube. In addition to these interventions, patients in the experimental group receive transcranial direct current stimulation, while the instruments used for patients in the placebo group only illuminate an indicator light without any actual effect.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
84
Inclusion Criteria
  • Meet the diagnostic criteria for ischemic stroke confirmed by MRI or CT;
  • Age > 18 years;
  • First-time stroke;
  • Swallowing disorder confirmed by swallowing contrast study or flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing;
  • Requires enteral nutrition support;
  • Stable vital signs, no severe cognitive impairment or aphasia, able to cooperate with treatment;
  • Transferred to the rehabilitation department within fifteen days of onset;
  • Stable vital signs.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Presence of contraindications for invasive oral endoscopy;
  • Concurrent presence of other neurodegenerative diseases that may cause swallowing disorders, such as neurodegenerative diseases;
  • Concurrent presence of other neurological disorders;
  • Tracheostomized patients;
  • Concurrent liver, kidney failure, tumor, or hematological disorders;
  • Pregnancy;
  • Presence of contraindications for transcranial direct current stimulation, such as epilepsy, cerebral edema;
  • Recent use of centrally acting drugs that interfere with the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation, such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproic acid, etc.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
The experimental groupComprehensive rehabilitation therapyThe patients are randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the placebo group. All patients receive routine rehabilitation therapy and swallowing rehabilitation training, along with enteral nutrition support using Intermittent Oro-esophageal Tube. In addition to these interventions, patients in the experimental group receive transcranial direct current stimulation, while the instruments used for patients in the placebo group only illuminate an indicator light without any actual effect.
The placebo groupComprehensive rehabilitation therapyThe patients are randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the placebo group. All patients receive routine rehabilitation therapy and swallowing rehabilitation training, along with enteral nutrition support using Intermittent Oro-esophageal Tube. In addition to these interventions, patients in the experimental group receive transcranial direct current stimulation, while the instruments used for patients in the placebo group only illuminate an indicator light without any actual effect.
The placebo groupIntermittent Oro-esophageal Tube FeedingThe patients are randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the placebo group. All patients receive routine rehabilitation therapy and swallowing rehabilitation training, along with enteral nutrition support using Intermittent Oro-esophageal Tube. In addition to these interventions, patients in the experimental group receive transcranial direct current stimulation, while the instruments used for patients in the placebo group only illuminate an indicator light without any actual effect.
The experimental groupIntermittent Oro-esophageal Tube FeedingThe patients are randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the placebo group. All patients receive routine rehabilitation therapy and swallowing rehabilitation training, along with enteral nutrition support using Intermittent Oro-esophageal Tube. In addition to these interventions, patients in the experimental group receive transcranial direct current stimulation, while the instruments used for patients in the placebo group only illuminate an indicator light without any actual effect.
The experimental groupTranscranial direct current stimulationThe patients are randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the placebo group. All patients receive routine rehabilitation therapy and swallowing rehabilitation training, along with enteral nutrition support using Intermittent Oro-esophageal Tube. In addition to these interventions, patients in the experimental group receive transcranial direct current stimulation, while the instruments used for patients in the placebo group only illuminate an indicator light without any actual effect.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Penetration Aspiration Scaleday 1 and day 15

Penetration-Aspiration Scale is used to measure swallowing safety, which is also the primary outcome of this study. Before and after treatment, patients are required to undergo a swallow study to complete the assessment. This scale evaluates the patient's swallowing function level and aspiration risk by assessing leakage and aspiration during the patient's swallowing process. The results are divided into eight levels, with higher levels indicating poorer swallowing function and lower swallowing safety.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Nutritional status-total proteinday 1 and day 15

The relevant indicators include total protein (TP, g/L) from the blood test within 24h after admission and the last day of treatment, generally, with empty-stomach infants and in the morning.

Functional Oral Intake Scaleday 1 and day 15

During Dysphagia-Functional Oral Intake Scale assessment, evaluators engage in communication with the patient, conduct observations, and make records to assess the patient's oral intake ability. The Functional Oral Intake Scale assessment form includes seven levels of scoring, ranging from level 1 to level 7, indicating a progressive improvement in the patient's oral intake ability. In general, the result below level 6 indicates unsafe for oral intake while level 6 and above indicates that eating via mouth can be safely conducted.

Patient Health Questionnaire-9day 1 and day 15

To assess the patients' depression levels, a questionnaire is used. The questionnaire consists of 9 questions related to depressive symptoms, and each question is answered using a 4-point rating scale. The total score ranges from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating a greater tendency towards depression.

Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaireday 1 and day 15

The Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire (SWAL-QOL) is used to evaluate the impact of swallowing function on patients' quality of life. The questionnaire consists of 44 questions related to swallowing function and quality of life. Each question is answered using a 5-point rating scale. In this study, the final score is converted into a percentage. The higher scores indicate the better quality of life.

Body weightday 1 and day 15

Body weight measurement of the infants was conducted by the same nurse according to the relevant standards.

Nutritional status-albuminday 1 and day 15

The relevant indicators include albumin (ALB, g/L)from the blood test within 24h after admission and the last day of treatment, generally, with empty-stomach infants and in the morning

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Center Rehabilitation Hospital

🇰🇷

Seoul, Korea, Republic of

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