Effect of modified air-pulse stimulation on tracheotomised patients with dysphagia after stroke: A randomized clinical trial.

Modified flexible endoscopy-mediated air-pulse stimulation significantly improved Murray Secretion Scale scores compared to conventional air-pulse stimulation.

• 47 subacute stroke patients with tracheotomy and dysphagia were randomized into control and trial groups
• Both groups received personalized swallowing rehabilitation training in addition to their respective stimulation interventions
• The trial group showed significantly better Murray Secretion Scale scores than the control group (P < .01)
• No statistical difference existed between the two groups at baseline (P > .5)

The trial group demonstrated significantly better Penetration-Aspiration Scale scores than the control group.

• Penetration-Aspiration Scale was used to assess swallowing function in both groups
• The trial group performed significantly better than the control group on the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (P < .01)
• This outcome was assessed in 47 subacute stroke patients requiring tracheotomy

Spontaneous swallowing frequency was significantly higher in the trial group receiving modified air-pulse stimulation compared to the control group.

• Spontaneous swallowing frequency was one of the primary swallowing function outcome indicators
• The trial group performed significantly better than the control group in spontaneous swallowing frequency (P < .01)
• Both groups received personalized swallowing rehabilitation training as a common intervention

Modified air-pulse stimulation significantly reduced pneumonia severity as measured by the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score compared to conventional stimulation.

• Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score was used to assess pneumonia severity in both groups
• The trial group performed significantly better than the control group on Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (P < .01)
• Post-stroke dysphagia with tracheotomy imposes significant physical and financial burdens on patients, making pulmonary infection a key clinical concern

Nutritional status indicators were significantly improved in the trial group compared to the control group.

• Hemoglobin and serum prealbumin levels were used to evaluate nutritional status
• The trial group showed significantly better hemoglobin levels than the control group (P < .05)
• Prealbumin levels were significantly better in the trial group compared to the control group (P < .0001)
• Prealbumin showed the most statistically significant between-group difference of all outcome measures

The study population consisted of subacute stroke patients with both tracheotomy and dysphagia, a population for which targeted interventions remain limited.

• 47 subacute stroke patients with tracheotomy and dysphagia were enrolled
• Post-stroke dysphagia is described as highly prevalent, particularly among severe cases requiring tracheotomy
• Currently, targeted interventions specifically designed to improve swallowing function in this tracheotomised stroke population remain limited
• Patients were randomized into control and trial groups with no statistical difference at baseline (P > .5)