title: Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in a patient with Sjogren's syndrome with dysphagia: a real time videofluoroscopic swallowing study.
abstract: Severe dysphagia in a 54 year-old woman with Sjogren's syndrome with involvement of multiple cranial nerves significantly improved after treatment with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in combination with a swallowing rehabilitation program. The swallowing response was assessed in real time using a videofluoroscope. Immediate improvement in the tongue retraction force, clearing of the valleculae, increase in laryngeal elevation and shortening of pharyngeal transit time were noted during stimulation. The patient returned to independent oral feeding after 46 sessions of NMES. After follow-up for 1 year, we found that the patient maintained adequate oral feeding and did not show signs of pulmonary complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shun-Man
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Chung-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi-Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hsin
authors.forename: Yi-Ta
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chau-Peng
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Leong
mesh_terms: D003679:Deglutition; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014741:Video Recording