Intermittent Oro-esophageal Tube Feeding on Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Patients With Dysphagia

A Randomized Controlled Study to Explore the Clinical Effect of Intermittent Oro-esophageal Tube Feeding vs. Nasogastric Tube Feeding on Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Patients With Dysphagia

Nasogastric tube feeding (NGT) has been widely used in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) patients with dysphagia but has a significant risk of complications. Intermittent Oro-esophageal Tube Feeding (IOE) is an established enteral nutrition approach that can be used with comprehensive rehabilitation therapy. This study aims to explore the clinical effect of IOE vs. NGT on CSVD Patients with Dysphagia. Compared to NGT, IOE, as an enteral nutrition support mode, in CSVD Patients with Dysphagia who received comprehensive rehabilitation therapy, showed advantages in improvement in dysphagia, nutritional status, ADL, QOL, pneumonia, and adverse events, which should be considered as the preferred approach.

Nasogastric tube feeding (NGT) has been widely used in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) patients with dysphagia but has a significant risk of complications. Intermittent Oro-esophageal Tube Feeding (IOE) is an established enteral nutrition approach that can be used with comprehensive rehabilitation therapy. This study aims to explore the clinical effect of IOE vs. NGT on CSVD Patients with Dysphagia.

This was a randomized controlled study with 60 CSVD Patients with Dysphagia who received comprehensive rehabilitation therapy. Patients enrolled were randomly divided into the observation group (with IOE, n=30) and the control group (with NGT, n=30). At admission and after treatment, Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS) and Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), body mass index (BMI), serum albumin (Alb), and hemoglobin (Hb), Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) were recruited to assess and compare dysphagia, nutritional status, activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life (QOL). The incidence of pneumonia was recorded and compared.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of CSVD, confirmed by MRI;
• Must be able to cooperate with treatment and questionnaire investigation, (Generally with a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 24) ;
• Clinical diagnosis of dysphagia through the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) and Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS);
• Age between 40 and 70 years;
• Enteral nutrition support was required and feasible.
• No history of prior stroke.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Dysphagia related to other cerebrovascular diseases or caused by neurodegenerative diseases;
• Complicated with severe liver and kidney failure, tumors, or hematological disorders;
• Simultaneously need to undergo other therapy that might affect the outcomes of this study;
• Unable or unwilling to undergo VFSS;
• Pregnant or nursing females.