To evaluate the clinical effect of deep acupuncture at Lianquan (CV23) combined with swallowing rehabilitation training in the treatment of dysphagia after stroke.

A total of 84 patients with dysphagia after stroke who met the inclusion criteria were divided into 2 groups, 42 in each. The control group received swallowing rehabilitation training, and the observation group was treated with acupuncture therapy based on deep acupuncture at Lianquan (CV23) combined with swallowing rehabilitation training. The VFSS score and clinical efficacy were compared between the 2 groups before and after treatment.

The cure rate of observation group was 69.1% (29/42), the total effective rate 85.7% (36/42), while the control group were 42.86% (18/42) and 66.67% (28/42). The comparison of cure rate and total efficiency rate between the two group had statistically significant differences (χ²=5.845, 4.200, P=0.016, 0.040). After treatment, the VFSS score of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (7.43 ± 2.27 vs. 4.31 ± 1.53; t=5.433, P<0.05). The recovery time of the 29 cured patients in the observation group was (12.0 ± 3.0) d, while the recovery time of the 18 cured patients in the control group was (17.8 ± 2.2) d. There was statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (t=7.094, P=0.001).

Deep acupuncture at Lianquan (CV23) combined with swallowing rehabilitation training can improve the swallowing function of patients with dysphagia after stroke, shorten the recovery time of swallowing function and improve the clinical efficacy.

Stroke; Deglutition disorders; Point CV23 (Lianquan); Acupuncture; Swallowing rehabilitation training