This study was to identify the effects of oropharyngeal sensory stimulation on a functional oral intake scale, oro-pharyngeal swallowing functions, and aspiration pneumonia symptoms with nasogastric tube insertion in stroke patients.

This study was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. The subjects of the study were 32 patients who were hospitalized in Kosin Gaspel hospital. The experimental subjects were stimulated for 10~20 minutes, 1 time per day. The intervention was implemented for 2 weeks.

Participants in the experimental group significantly received a higher score in oro-pharyngeal swallowing function than those in the control group. However the participants in the experimental group only got a high score in the function oralintake scale which doesn't imply a statistical significance. In addition, they didn't geta remarkably higher score in aspiration pneumonia symptoms than those in the control group.

This study demonstrates that oropharyngeal sensory stimulation is effective in promoting recovery oro-pharyngeal swallowing function of nasogastric tube insertions in stroke patients.

This study was performed to test the clinical usefulness of the glucose test strip method for early detection of pulmonary aspiration in tube fed patients.

The subjects for the study were 36 patients who were receiving enteral feedings and 39 patients who were not given enteral feedings. For the analysis, the tube fed patients were divided into two groups (clinically significant aspiration and no aspiration) according to criteria.

The mean glucose concentration of tracheal secretions from non enteral fed patients was 26.35mg/dl and were lower than those concentrations found in tube fed patients (32.75mg/dl). The mean glucose concentration of the aspiration group was 45.60mg/dl and the glucose concentration of the non aspiration group was 19.93mg/dl. The difference was statistically significant (t=2.163, p=. 038). More subjects in the no aspiration group (73%) than the aspiration group (56%) had glucose concentrations below 20mg/dl. After deleting the cases that had samples containing blood, glucose concentrations of tracheal aspirates were lower in both groups.

The glucose level of the aspiration group was significantly lower than the no aspiration group and more subjects in the aspiration group had a glucose level higher than 101mg/dl. Therefore, the glucose test of tracheal secretions in tube fed patients could be a desirable test for screening for tracheal aspiration. Especially the patient who is showing repeatedly high glucose levels should not be given feedings until reassessment is completed.