To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (ta-VNS) in post-stroke dysphagia rehabilitation.

Patients with post-stroke dysphagia admitted to the Rehabilitation Medicine Department of Shanghai General Hospital from January to June 2024 were selected as study subjects,and were divided into an experimental group and a control group using a random number table method. Two groups of patients received conventional swallowing rehabilitation therapy, while the experimental group underwent ta-VNS targeting the concha region, and the control group received sham ta-VNS stimulation at the earlobe. The intervention was administered at a frequency of 20 min/d, 5 d/week, for a total duration of 4 weeks. The swallowing function of subjects in both the experimental and control groups was assessed before and after treatment using the water swallow test, SSA score, soft palate movement, mandibular movement, lip movement, tongue movement, pharyngeal reflex, gag reflex, and cough reflex.

A total of 52 patients were included, including 26 in the experimental group and 26 in the control group. After treatment, the scores of water swallowing test, SSA, palatal movement, mandibular movement, labial movement, lingual movement, pharyngeal reflex, gag reflex, and cough reflex in two groups of patients were better than before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The scores of water swallowing test, SSA, palatal movement, mandibular movement, labial movement, lingual movement, pharyngeal reflex, and gag reflex in the experimental group after treatment were better than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference in cough reflex scores (P>0.05).

ta-VNS is a safe and effective intervention for improving post-stroke dysphagia.