title: Submental sensitive transcutaneous electrical stimulation (SSTES) at home in neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oropharyngeal dysphagia is frequent in chronic neurological disorders and increases mortality, mainly due to pulmonary complications. Our aim was to show that submental sensitive transcutaneous electrical stimulation (SSTES) applied during swallowing at home can improve swallowing function in patients with chronic neurological disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients were recruited for the study (4 f, 68 ± 12 years). They all suffered from neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia. We first compared the swallowing of paste and liquid with and without SSTES. Thereafter, the patients were asked to perform SSTES at home with each meal. Swallowing was evaluated before and after six weeks of SSTES using the SWAL-QoL questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the stimulator switch turned on, swallowing coordination improved, with a decrease in swallow reaction time for the liquid (P<0.05) and paste boluses (P<0.01). Aspiration scores also decreased significantly with the electrical stimulations (P<0.05), with no change in stasis. At-home compliance was excellent and most patients tolerated the electrical stimulations with no discomfort. A comparison of the SWAL-QoL questionnaires after 6 weeks revealed an improvement in the burden (P=0.001), fatigue (P<0.05), and pharyngeal symptom (P<0.001) scales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrated that SSTES is easy to use at home and improves oropharyngeal dysphagia quality of life.
authors: Service de physiologie digestive, urinaire, respiratoire et sportive, CHU de Rouen, France. eric.verin@chu-rouen.fr
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Verin
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Maltete
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Ouahchi
authors: J-P
authors: JP
authors: Marie
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Hannequin
authors: E Guegan
authors: EG
authors: Massardier
authors: A-M
authors: AM
authors: Leroi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000517:prevention & control; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000150:complications; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000517:prevention & control; D011788:Quality of Life; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*