Computerized Acoustic Swallowing Evaluation

Stroke Clinical Trial

— CASE  

Official title:

Computerized Acoustic Swallowing Evaluation in Patients With Stroke

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Withdrawn

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02925507
• Other study ID #: Pro00044374
• Status: Withdrawn
• Phase: N/A
• First received: October 4, 2016
• Last updated: July 21, 2017
• Start date: October 2016
• Est. completion date: June 19, 2017

Study information

• Verified date: July 2017
• Source: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

It is the purpose of this study to determine if a commercially available electronic stethoscope synchronized with an smart phone or iPad application can be used as an accurate and objective screening tool for measuring dysphagia. The investigators plan to do so in two phases; in Phase I the investigators will recruit normal subjects to establish normal swallowing patterns, as well as optimal sensor placement; and in Phase II the investigators will compare the recordings obtained by the electronic stethoscope with those obtained using videofluoroscopy.

Description:

In this study, the investigators will use commercially available electronic stethoscope to assess dysphagia in patients who have recently experienced a stroke. The Eko Core electronic stethoscope is approved by the Food and Drug Agency (FDA) is currently available for use in the health care context.

Phase I

In the first phase of this study the investigators will try to establish the electronic stethoscope's measurements for normal swallowing patterns. The investigators will recruit healthy controls and auscultate for swallowing sounds at three locations: in the anterolateral section of the neck, in the posterior section of the neck, and in the superior sternum as illustrated in Figure 1. After the sensors are placed, participants will be asked to perform the following tests:

• Dry Swallow - ask participant to swallow their saliva

• Ask participant to swallow 1 teaspoon of water

• Ask participant to swallow 3 ounces of water (continuous)

• Ask participant to swallow one teaspoon of applesauce

• Ask participant to chew one cracker Healthy subjects will be recruited by advertisement using a flyer. Interested individuals will be able contact the study coordinator by email or phone. Subsequently, the participants will present for consenting and testing at the CSMC rehabilitation gym (North Tower 7215) or Pacific Theaters Building (116 N. Robertson) at a mutually agreed time.

The results of these tests will be used to determine the electronic stethoscope's measurements for a normal swallowing pattern.

Additionally, the investigators will determine optimal sensor location by measuring the quality of the recordings obtained in each location, and getting participant input with regarding their preferred sensor location. Signal quality will be determined by observing the loudness of the swallowing signal relative to the loudness of background noises (heartbeat, pulse, etc.) in each of the three locations.

Phase II As part of their standard of care, all stroke patients at CSMC undergo a swallowing screen by the nursing staff at bedside. If a patient fails the bedside screen, a referral is made to the physician for a clinical swallowing evaluation by a swallowing therapist. If the patient fails the clinical swallowing evaluation, the referral is made to the physician for an instrumental swallowing evaluation which is often the videofluoroscopy swallowing study. At bedside, the electronic stethoscope will be used to monitor the patients' pharyngeal acoustic signals while they undergo swallowing evaluations monitored by members of the research team.

During Phase II all subjects will undergo evaluation by the electronic stethoscope. Regarding VSS, it is entirely dependent upon the managing medical team and the physician.

The investigators anticipate that a number of patients will undergo VSS. If VSS is required, the order and timing will be determined by the medical team. Given the dynamic nature of the acute inpatient setting, details such as timing of VSS cannot be anticipated.

Potential participants will be identified through the daily stroke list on CS-Link, which is reviewed by the investigators who have access to this list as part of routine daily operations. The investigator has access to the patient list as part of quality oversight. Per request for waiver of consent/authorization, patients will be selected from this list based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Subsequently, the treating physician will be contacted for approval to recruit the patient. Once approval is given, the investigator will then visit the patient and ask if he or she is willing to participate. The investigator will only consent patients that are able to communicate clear understanding of the study, by demonstrating that they understand purpose, procedure, risks and benefits of the study. If the patient cannot understand the purpose of the study, risks, and benefits they will not be consented.

Eligible patients will be approached by a member of the research team who will discuss the study in detail with them and obtain consent.

Once consent is obtained, the electronic stethoscope will be placed on the location found in Phase I to be optimal, and the patient will be asked to perform the following tests at bedside and during the videofluoroscopy swallowing study:

• Dry Swallow-Ask patient to swallow their saliva

• Ask patient to swallow 1 teaspoon of water

• Ask patient to swallow 3 ounces of water (continuous)

• Ask patient to swallow one teaspoon of applesauce

• Ask patient to chew one cracker

The following outcomes will be measured in both evaluations:

• Timing of swallow onset (timing of hyoid elevation)

• Duration of pharyngeal phase of swallow

• Timing of esophageal phase onset

• Duration of esophageal phase of swallow

• Coughing (Yes/No)

• Throat clearing (Yes/No)

• Pharyngeal pooling (Yes/No)

• Spontaneous multiple swallows (more than one) to clear bolus (Yes/No)

The investigator will compare the data obtained using videofluoroscopy swallowing study with the signals recorded with the electronic stethoscope to determine whether the patterns detected by electronic stethoscope concur with those obtained via the videofluoroscopy swallowing study. Additionally, the investigator will compare the results to similar tests performed by nurses and swallowing therapists.

Lastly, the investigators will compare the data obtained by the electronic stethoscope from the healthy controls in Phase I with the data obtained from the stroke patients in Phase II, and the investigators will try to determine whether the signals recorded can differentiate normal from abnormal swallowing patterns.

Patients will not be compensated for their participation in this study.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Withdrawn
• Enrollment: 0
• Est. completion date: June 19, 2017
• Est. primary completion date: June 19, 2017
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Admitted to CSMC for acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, or TIA

2. No history of head and/or neck cancer

3. No tracheostomy or ventilator

4. Able to follow simple one step commands

5. 18 years of age or older

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Not admitted to CSMC for acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke or TIA

2. History of head and/or neck cancer

3. Tracheostomy or ventilator

4. Unable to follow simple one step commands

5. Less than 18 years of age.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Deglutition Disorders
• Stroke

Intervention

Other:
• Swallowing Screen
Patient will be ask to undergo a swallowing screen by study staff

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
n/a

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

References & Publications (8)

Armstrong JR, Mosher BD. Aspiration pneumonia after stroke: intervention and prevention. Neurohospitalist. 2011 Apr;1(2):85-93. doi: 10.1177/1941875210395775. — View Citation

Bhattacharyya N. The prevalence of dysphagia among adults in the United States. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014 Nov;151(5):765-9. doi: 10.1177/0194599814549156. Epub 2014 Sep 5. — View Citation

Brogan E, Langdon C, Brookes K, Budgeon C, Blacker D. Dysphagia and factors associated with respiratory infections in the first week post stroke. Neuroepidemiology. 2014;43(2):140-4. doi: 10.1159/000366423. Epub 2014 Nov 5. — View Citation

Daniels SK, Brailey K, Priestly DH, Herrington LR, Weisberg LA, Foundas AL. Aspiration in patients with acute stroke. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1998 Jan;79(1):14-9. — View Citation

Edmiaston J, Connor LT, Steger-May K, Ford AL. A simple bedside stroke dysphagia screen, validated against videofluoroscopy, detects dysphagia and aspiration with high sensitivity. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2014 Apr;23(4):712-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2013.06.030. Epub 2013 Jul 30. — View Citation

Kendall KA, McKenzie S, Leonard RJ, Gonçalves MI, Walker A. Timing of events in normal swallowing: a videofluoroscopic study. Dysphagia. 2000 Spring;15(2):74-83. — View Citation

Leder SB, Bayar S, Sasaki CT, Salem RR. Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing in assessing aspiration after transhiatal esophagectomy. J Am Coll Surg. 2007 Oct;205(4):581-5. — View Citation

Trapl M, Enderle P, Nowotny M, Teuschl Y, Matz K, Dachenhausen A, Brainin M. Dysphagia bedside screening for acute-stroke patients: the Gugging Swallowing Screen. Stroke. 2007 Nov;38(11):2948-52. Epub 2007 Sep 20. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Acoustic Signal of Normal Swallowing Pattern	To establish the acoustic signals associated wtih a normal pattern of swallowing using an electronic stethoscope	1 minute
Primary	Acoustic Signal of Swallowing in the Stroke Population	To establish the acoustic signals associated with neurologic pattern of swallowing using an electronic stethoscope	1 minute