Effectiveness of Conventional Swallowing Therapy in Acute Stroke Patients with Dysphagia

Dysphagia is a common problem in acute stroke patient. Aspiration pneumonia increases in this group. Swallowingtherapy is immediately conducted in a stable stroke patient. An effectiveness of our program has not been determined.Objective.To determine an effectiveness of conventional swallowing therapy in acute stroke patients with dysphagia.Methods.Weretrospectively reviewed data from medical records of acute stroke patients with dysphagia who participated a swallowingtherapy from January 2017 to June 2017. Fifty-seven acute stroke patients with dysphagia (26 males and 31 females) wereparticipating in a conventional swallowing therapy (50 minutes a day for 3 days per week). A functional oral intake scale (FOIS)and swallow function scoring system (SFSS) were used to determine an effectiveness of the swallowing therapy. FOIS and SFSSscores before thefirst therapy session and after the last therapy session were compared using a pairedt-test.Results. The meanage of the patient was69:5±15:35years. The period from stroke onset to thefirst swallowing therapy session was7:5±6:69days. The number of therapy was5:6±2:83sessions. Participants showed a significant improvement of the FOIS (mean scoreincreased from 1.74 to 3.30 points,P=0:001) and SFSS (mean score increased from 2.51 to 3.68 points,P=0:001). Forty-twopercent of patients with tube dependent change to total oral intake.Conclusion. Conventional swallowing therapy is an effectivetreatment in acute stroke with dysphagia.