Characteristics of dysphagia in hemispheric stroke

Swallowing is a complex sensorimotor event stimulated by a peripheral nerve. In general, the swallowing centre is accepted to be located within the brainstem. It does, however, receive afferent inputs from the cortex. There have been several clinical reports on cerebrovascular cortical lesions leading to dysphagia. We describe the characteristics of dysphagia caused by ACM infarction. During Januar 2003 and August 2005, 41 patients with dysphagia in acute stroke were reported to the dysphagia therapy unit of our clinic. 19 patients (8 female, average age 59.5 years) with first-time stroke determined by clinical…