Effect of Afferent Oropharyngeal Pharmacological and Electrical Stimulation on Swallow Response and on Activation of Human Cortex in Stroke Patients With Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

Phase 2

Completed

• Conditions: Dysphagia; Aspiration; Stroke

• Registration Number: NCT01777672
• Lead Sponsor: Hospital de Mataró

Brief Summary

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is a major complaint among many patients with stroke and causes severe complications. There is no specific treatment for these patients. Impaired swallow response is caused by a delay in the timing of oropharyngeal reconfiguration with delayed airway protection. Swallow response is initiated by sensory afferent fibers in the oropharynx and cerebral cortex reaching the central swallowing pattern generator (CPG) in the medulla oblongata and brainstem motor nuclei. Hypothesis: Stimulation of pharyngeal sensory afferent fibers through TRPV1 receptors and electrical stimuli might enhance the stimulation of the CPG and speed the swallow response. Long-term treatment of OD will improve clinical outcome of stroke patients. Aim: To assess the effect of TRPV1 agonists (capsaicin) and that of sensorial pharyngeal electrical stimulation (intrapharyngeal and transcutaneous) on VFS signs and swallow response at 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment in stroke patients with established OD. To compare the clinical effect of classical rehabilitation strategies with that of these new afferent sensorial neurostimulation strategies in terms of nutritional status parameters, incidence of aspiration pneumonia and/or low respiratory tract infection, quality of life, and mortality. Methods: Clinical screening of OD with the volume-viscosity swallow test and assessment by VFS and quantitative measurements of swallow response. Randomized controlled trial assessing the effect of standard rehabilitation with that of afferent sensorial neurostimulation strategies.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-10
• Study First Submitted: 2013-01-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-01-28
• Study First Posted: 2013-01-29
• Primary Completion: 2016-06
• Status Verified: 2017-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-02-07
• Last Update Posted: 2017-02-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

• Person with persistent clinical signs or symptoms of OD according to V-VST and confirmed with VFS (PA scale level 3 or more) secondary to a stroke episode in the last 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria

• Patient unconscious or in a coma
• Patients diagnosed with transitory ischemic accident
• life expectancy less than 3 months
• neurodegenerative disease

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
To assess the efficacy and safety of new neuron-stimulation treatments for OD in patients with stroke and to explore their mechanism of action.	12 months	The efficacy of each treatment will be assessed by VFS in each patient after the treatment and at the end of the follow-up period, considering Rosenbek scale and measures of oropharyngeal swallow response including oropharyngeal reconfiguration, timing and extent of hyoid motion and bolus propulsion force of the tongue. Clinical outcome also evaluated are episodes of aspiration pneumonia and low respiratory tract infections, nutritional status, complications and clinical symptoms experimented during one year of follow-up and mortality rates and cause of death.; Participating clinicians will be instructed to register and describe all serious adverse events (SAE) occurred during the study and report them on a specific form within 24 hours. The guidelines for SAE reporting to the Ethical Committee and competent authorities will be followed.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
To determine the prevalence of OD and its complications in stroke patients over one year.	12 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hospital de Mataró; 🇪🇸 Mataró, Barcelona, Spain