Vital Stim therapy offers hope for patients with swallowing disorders

Patient James Berry of Arnold, left, receives Vital Stim therapy from speech therapist Paul Davis at St. Anthony's Sports and Therapy Center.

Al Hewett, 78, like most people, took for granted the normally involuntary functions of his body. He blinked, he breathed, he swallowed all without any conscious effort on his part.

That all changed six months ago, when the St. Peters resident developed pneumonia, due to blood aspirating into his lungs from a bleeding ulcer. The pneumonia, combined with other medical problems, resulted in Hewetts being hospitalized in an intensive care unit for more than three weeks, on a ventilator.

When he was removed from the vent, Hewett was unable to swallow normally and had to have a feeding tube. Despite receiving inpatient physical and swallowing therapy at the hospital, he could swallow only his own saliva when he was released to home.

"My home care therapist suggested I try electrical stimulation for my swallowing problem," Hewett said. "My son called around and learned that the Vital Stim therapy was available at St. Anthony's Medical Centers Sports and Therapy Center."

That's where Hewett met Paul Davis, a speech therapist at St. Anthony's who had worked with the medical center administration to purchase Vital Stim some three years ago for use with stroke patients and others with swallowing problems. The hospital purchased three of the devices two for inpatient use and one for outpatient and trained three therapists in their use.

"This type of neuromuscular stimulator has been around for years, but was previously used only for larger muscle groups, like arms and legs," Davis said. "Now we are seeing remarkable results using it for swallowing disorders. Patients who have had a stroke, head injury, neurological disorder or multiple medical problems that required the extended use of a ventilator, intubation and/or feeding tube are candidates for this treatment. Vital Stim stimulates the neck muscles to help facilitate swallowing."

The stimulator is held onto the neck with adhesive electrodes and attached to a portable hand control. As the patient swallows, the voltage is increased as needed. The patient feels only a slight pricking of the skin during the 45-minute treatments.

Four weeks and 12 treatments later, Hewett was able to swallow normally again. With Davis help, he gradually began eating pudding, eventually graduating to fudge, then brownies. His last trial was popcorn, and he passed.

Paul said, "Now youre ready -- you can eat anything," Hewett said. "I still eat slowly and concentrate on what I'm doing, but its great to be able to eat regular food again. My speech also is very much improved since I started working with Paul."

Davis said he uses this therapy to treat many patients who are referred from other hospitals or other therapists who don't have this technology available to them. "It is rewarding to see patients come in with a feeding tube and leave with the ability to eat regular food again," he said.

One of those patients was south countian Ed Bernard, 82, who woke up one morning last July unable to swallow even his own saliva. Doctors believed a minor stroke was responsible. For the next eight months, Bernard took his nourishment through a feeding tube inserted into his stomach.

"It was not at all pleasant," Bernard said. "In fact, it was quite depressing, thinking about spending the rest of my life on that thing."

But he didn't. Bernard heard about the Vital Stim therapy at St. Anthony's and asked his doctor for a referral. After two rounds of treatment three times a week for eight weeks he was able to swallow soft foods, gradually progressing to more chewy fare. Today, he can eat anything, and his feeding tube was removed last week.

"It's amazing I'm back to normal," Bernard said. "It is just so nice to be able to eat regular food again. Paul is a fantastic therapist, and he is so dedicated to his patients. That mans a hero to me!"

St. Anthony's Sports and Therapy Center is located at 12692 Lamplighter Square, across Tesson Ferry Road from St. Anthony's Medical Center. For more information about the Vital Stim therapy or other outpatient therapies offered there, call Paul Davis at 314-849-2366.

For information, please call our Health Access Line at 314-ANTHONY (268-4669) or 800-554-9550
or visit find a physician online.

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— and your first choice for health care services.

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Vital Stim therapy offers hope for patients with swallowing disorders