Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2014; 18 - a2518
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1388742

The Effects of Deep Brain Stimulation on Swallowing in Patients with Parkinson Disease: Case Report

Annelise Ayres 1, Carlos Roberto Mello Rieder 1, Diogo Melo Rodrigues 1, Maira Rozenfeld Olchik 1, Mariceli Ghisi 1
  • 1Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • 2Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre

Introduction: Parkinson disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized clinically by tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity. We can also observe the presence of dysphagia in a large number of patients with Parkinson disease. Deep brain stimulation has been a widely used surgical technique, since it reduces motor symptoms in these patients, but there are few studies that investigate the effect of deep brain stimulation on swallowing function.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of deep brain stimulation on swallowing in patients with Parkinson disease.

Methods: Six patients were evaluated preoperation and after the deep brain stimulation. Clinical evaluation of orofacial structures and functional evaluation with liquids and solids was taken.

Results: Six patients were included from January to December 2013. Three patients (50%) had Hoehn and Yahr Stage 2 (H&Y 2) and three patients (50%) had Hoehn and Yahr Stage 3 (H&Y 3) Parkinson disease. Four patients were male. The mean age was 49.5 years (45-81). Before surgery all the patients had changes in oral phase. Signs of change in swallowing more often were projection head and presence of food residue after swallowing. After surgery, dysphagia symptoms had not changed and did not observe worsening of the signs and symptoms of swallowing disorders.

Conclusion: We can see that in the sample studied swallowing was not adversely affected by deep brain stimulation, and there were no significant improvements in this function after surgery.