Study of evidence based efficiency of neuromuscular electro stimulation therapy (NMES) patients with neurogenic dysphagia

Swallowing is a vital function, which consists of organically processing various types of food, enabling the food consumed orally to get to the stomach. In case of a partial or complete disability of this function, swallowing difficulties (dysphalgia) occurs. If, due to a neurological disease, this condition keeps developing, it is called neurogenic dysphalgia. During this process, malnutrition (related) health problems may occur, sometimes even life threathening conditions, and even deaths, as a consequence of unprotected airway. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Therapy (NMES) is a special currently developed method to treat oropharyngeal dysphalgia. A highly targeted research on the evidence-based efficiency of NMES was not found in Turkey. The aim of this paper was to study the evidence-based efficacy of NMES used in treating Neurogenic Dysphagia at the Yunus Emre Public Hospital Mavi Hospital Campus, Gynaecology Clinic in 2013. The data for this purpose were evaluated as pre-treatment and post-treatment. The parameters shown are; Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI), Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and EAT-10 scores, Fiberoptic endoscopic swallowing study findings, goniometric measurements, computer assisted sound analysis program (MDVP), duration of eating, weight fluctuations, and food forms. NMES 20 was also administered to the neurogenic dysphagia patient in the Reverse-Y (NMES 2b) position. In addition; Between 2013 and 2015, retrospective file scanning of 10 patients with NMES treated neurogenic dysphagia was performed. Subsequently, these results were statistically evaluated to discover whether the NMES had evidence-based efficiency in patients with neurogenic dysphagia. Keywords: Swallowing, Neurogenic Dysphagia, NMES, Evidence Based Efficacy