Objective To investigate the effect of electrical stimulation with bilateral scalp acupuncture on time parameters in video fluoroscopic swallowing study and cortical excitability in patients with dysphagia after cortical stroke

as well as its possible mechanism of action. Methods A total of 84 patients with dysphagia after cortical stroke were randomly divided into control group with 41 patients and observation group with 43 patients. The patients in the control group were given acupuncture based on acupoint selection for pseudobulbar palsy

and in addition to the treatment in the control group

the patients in the observation group were given electrical stimulation of bilateral scalp acupuncture

with acupuncture and pulse acupuncture at the lower 2/5 of the bilateral anterior oblique parietotemporal lines[on the line connecting Qianshencong(EX-HN1) to Xuanli(GB6)] and the lower 2/5 of the bilateral posterior oblique parietotemporal lines [on the line connecting Baihui(GV20)and Qubin(GB7)]

with a needle retaining time of 30 minutes

once a day and 6 times a week for 3 weeks. Before treatment and after 3 weeks of treatment

oral delay time(ODT)

oral transit time(OTT)

pharyngeal delay time(PDT)

and pharyngeal transit time(PTT) were compared between the two group; the Rosenbek Penetration-Aspiration Scale was used to evaluate penetration-aspiration and appro-ximate entropy(ApEn) of EEG nonlinear index. Results After treatment

both groups had significant reductions in ODT

OTT

PDT

PTT

and Rosenbek Penetration-Aspiration score and a significant increase in ApEn(P<0.05). Compared with the control group after treatment

the observation group had significant reductions in ODT and OTT(P<0.05) and significant increases in the ApEn values of bilateral central

parietal

and posterior temporal regions(P<0.05)

while there were no significant differences in PDT

PTT

and Rosenbek Penetration-Aspiration score between the two groups(P>0.05). Conclusion In addition to body acupuncture

electrical stimulation with bilateral scalp acupuncture can improve ODT and OTT in the treatment of patients with dysphagia after cortical stroke

which may be associated with the increased excitability of the swallowing cortex.