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Large-Scale Study of Oro-esophageal Feeding Versus Nasogastric Feeding for Swallowing Function and Airway Protection

The Effect of Oro-esophageal Versus Nasogastric Feeding for Stroke Patients With Dysphagia: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Large-Scale Study

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07386834
Acronym
IOEfinal
Enrollment
422
Registered
2026-02-04
Start date
2026-03-01
Completion date
2027-04-01
Last updated
2026-03-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Dysphagia

Brief summary

This is a randomized controlled trial involving patients with ischemic stroke and dysphagia. The aim of this study is to explore the recovery speed and therapeutic effect of oro-esophageal feeding compared with nasogastric feeding on swallowing function. This study mainly addresses the following two research questions: 1. Whether oro-esophageal feeding improves swallowing function more rapidly and effectively than nasogastric tube feeding. 2. Whether oro-esophageal feeding is non-inferior to nasogastric tube feeding in terms of safety.

Detailed description

This is a randomized controlled trial involving patients with ischemic stroke and dysphagia. The aim of this study is to explore the recovery speed and therapeutic effect of oro-esophageal feeding compared with nasogastric feeding on swallowing function. This study mainly addresses the following two research questions: 1. Whether oro-esophageal feeding improves swallowing function more rapidly and effectively than nasogastric tube feeding. 2. Whether oro-esophageal feeding is non-inferior to nasogastric tube feeding in terms of safety. The intervention period will last for two weeks, with an additional four-week follow-up observation period. This is a multicenter study to be conducted across multiple hospitals.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTOro-esophageal Feeding

Medical staff inserts the tube slowly and smoothly into the upper esophagus, verifying the correct insertion depth by referencing the calibration marks on the tube wall. The distance from the incisors to the tube's tip should range from 22 to 25 cm. Following insertion, the distal end of the tube is submerged in a container of water, and the absence of continuous bubbling confirms successful intubation. Feeding is subsequently administered three times daily at a rate of 50 mL per minute, with a volume of 400 to 600 mL per feeding. The intervention period lasts for a total of two weeks.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTNasogastric Feeding

The feeding was conducted once every 3-4 hours, with 200-300ml each time. The total feeding volume was determined based on daily requirements. The feeding content was formulated by the nutritionists based on the patient condition and relevant guidelines to reach the energy demand as 20-35 kcal/kg/day and daily protein demand of patients through the determination of 24-h urinary urea for both two groups.The intervention period lasts for a total of two weeks.

All patients will receive rehabilitation care according to the standard of care for the trial site hospital. All these interventions are performed in accordance with the Chinese Guidelines for Stroke Rehabilitation and the Chinese Guidelines for Dysphagia Rehabilitation. The intervention period lasts for a total of two weeks.

Sponsors

Zeng Changhao
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age\>18 years. * First stroke * Disease duration less than one month. * Ischemic stroke. * Patients who need enteral feeding. * Dysphagia confirmed by imaging Study. * Clear consciousness. * Stable vital signs. * With informed consent and participants who understand and agree to comply with planned study procedures.

Exclusion criteria

* Dysphagia that might be caused by other diseases or structural abnormalities. * Complicated with severe liver and kidney failure, tumors, or hematological disorders. * Contraindications for tube feeding. * Pregnancy or breast feeding. * Anticipated discharge from the hospital or transfer to another hospital within two week.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Dysphagia Outcome and Severity ScaleDay 0 and day15The Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale consists of 7 levels, from 1 to 7, based on imaging data. A higher level indicates better swallowing function.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Time to improvement of one level and of the baseline Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scaleup to 2 weeksThe Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale consists of 7 levels, from 1 to 7, based on imaging data. The investigators will record the time required for participants to achieve a one-grade improvement from the baseline Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale.
Time to oral intakeup to 2 weeksThe time to recovery is the first day, during the two weeks of the intervention period, on which a participant meets level 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 on the Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale. The Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale consists of 7 levels, from 1 to 7, based on imaging data. A higher level indicates better swallowing function.
Penetration-Aspiration ScaleDay 0 and day15The Penetration-Aspiration Scale is for assessing airway protection. It has 8 grades, grouped into 3 categories: no penetration/aspiration, penetration, aspiration. Lower grades = better function: Grade 1 is optimal (no airway entry); Grade 8 is most severe (food enters airway below vocal cords with no clearing effort).
Murray Secretion ScaleDay 0 and day15The Murray Secretion Scale is used to evaluate the accumulation of secretions, in which grade 0 meant no obvious accumulation, and grade 3 meant secretions in the laryngeal vestibule. The Murray Secretion Scale has 4 grades. The higher grade indicates more severe accumulation of secretions.
Yale Pharyngeal Residual Severity Rating ScaleDay 0 and day15The Yale Pharyngeal Residual Severity Rating Scale is used to evaluate pharyngeal residue after swallowing. The score could range between 1 and 5, with higher scores indicating worse situations.
Aspirationup to 6 weeksAspiration is based on self-reporting, caregiver monitoring, or the diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia, defined as the coughing and discomfort caused by food or water entering the airway for various reasons. The numbers of aspiration will be recorded.

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 12, 2026