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    Interventional procedure overview of pharyngeal electrical stimulation for neurogenic dysphagia

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    Existing assessments of this procedure

    In 2021, the European Stroke Organisation and European Society for Swallowing Disorders published guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of post-stroke dysphagia (Dziewas, 2021a). The recommendations were informed by a literature review, meta-analysis, and expert consensus. The following recommendations were made:

    • Recommendation 20: In patients with post-stroke dysphagia, we suggest treatment with rTMS, TES, tDCS and PES as adjunct to conventional dysphagia treatments to improve swallowing function.

      • Quality of evidence: Moderate

      • Strength of recommendation: Weak for intervention

    • Recommendation 21: In tracheostomised stroke patients with severe dysphagia, we suggest treatment with pharyngeal electrical stimulation to accelerate decannulation.

      • Quality of evidence: High

      • Strength of recommendation: Weak for intervention

    In 2021, the German Society of Neurology published S1 guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of neurogenic dysphagia (Dziewas, 2021b). The recommendations were informed by a systematic literature review and expert consensus. The following recommendations were made:

    • Recommendation 46: Due to limited data, neurostimulation methods in principle should be used in clinical trials or registries.

    • Recommendation 47: Pharyngeal electrical stimulation should be used to treat dysphagia in tracheostomised stroke patients with supratentorial lesion. Participation in prospective clinical registries is recommended.

    The National Clinical Guideline for Stroke 2023 highlights pharyngeal electrical stimulation treatment:.

    • Recommendation 4.26: Patients with tracheostomy and severe dysphagia after stroke may be considered for pharyngeal electrical stimulation to aid decannulation where the device is available and it can be delivered by a trained healthcare professional.