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Efficacy of electrical stimulation and exercise for dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer: A randomized clinical trial
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Efficacy of electrical stimulation and exercise for dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer: A randomized clinical trial

Susan E. Langmore, Timothy M. McCulloch, Gintas P. Krisciunas, Cathy L. Lazarus, Douglas J. Van Daele, Barbara Roa Pauloski, Denis Rybin and Gheorghe Doros
Head & neck, Vol.38(S1), pp.E1221-E1231
04/01/2016
DOI: 10.1002/hed.24197
PMCID: PMC4833725
PMID: 26469360
url
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/4833725View
Open Access

Abstract

Background. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a highly sought after but poorly studied treatment for dysphagia among patients with head and neck cancer with dysphagia. This study investigated the efficacy of NMES in this patient population. Methods. In this double-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 170 patients with head and neck cancer experiencing posttreatment dysphagia were randomized into active NMES+swallow exercise versus sham NMES+swallow exercise groups. Outcomes after a 12-week program included changes in fluoroscopy measures, diet, and quality of life. Results. After the 12-week program, the active NMES group had significantly worse Penetration Aspiration Scale scores than the sham group. Both groups reported significantly better diet and quality of life. No other measures were significant. Conclusion. NMES did not add benefit to traditional swallow exercises. Unfortunately, swallow exercises were not effective by themselves either. For patients with head and neck cancer with moderate to severe dysphagia caused by radiation therapy, current behavioral therapies are of limited help in reversing long-term dysphagia. (C) 2015 Wiley Periodicals,
Life Sciences & Biomedicine Otorhinolaryngology Science & Technology Surgery

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