A Novel Approach to Severe Chronic Neurogenic Dysphagia Using Pharyngeal Sensory Electrical Stimulation

The treatment options for severe chronic neurogenic dysphagia are limited. A patient, after resection of medulla oblongata hemangioblastoma, who failed to respond to 7 mos of traditional dysphagia rehabilitation therapy, was treated with prolonged pharyngeal sensory electrical stimulation for 39 sessions over 57 days. For the first time, this case report showed improvement in hypopharyngeal peak pressure (9.1 vs. 90.8 mm Hg) using high-resolution manometry. Reductions in the penetration and aspiration scale, secretion, and residue of the vallecular and pyriform sinus were verified by videofluoroscopic swallowing study and flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. The Functional Oral Intake Scale score increased from 1 to 6. No adverse event was observed. This case report presented a potential therapeutic protocol for severe chronic neurogenic dysphagia, which might be instructive for clinical practice.