Introducing VitalStim® Therapy, the first proven treatment for dysphagia. It's the only dysphagia therapy backed by compelling clinical data and cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Based on clinical electrical stimulation
Proven safe
Remarkably successful in real-world use
Better-and faster-results than any traditional therapy
The only neuromuscular electrical stimulation that is cleared by the Food and Drug Administration to treat dysphagia.
Training muscles to function again
VitalStim Therapy uses small electrical currents to stimulate the muscles responsible for swallowing. At the same time, trained specialists help patients "re-educate" their muscles through rehabilitation therapy.
A small, carefully calibrated current is delivered by specially designed electrodes.
The current stimulates motor nerves in the throat.
The muscles responsible for swallowing contract.
The quality of the swallowing function improves.
With repeated therapy, muscles are re-educated.
Safety affirmed - by the FDA
NMES is routinely used to help restore muscle function. But traditional NMES treatments are contraindicated for use on the anterior neck. The specific concerns: that stimulating the laryngeal afferents could trigger laryngospasm, and that placing electrodes too close to the carotid artery could cause sinus bradycardia.
But VitalStim® Therapy is not a traditional treatment. And, therefore, received FDA clearance for use on the swallowing muscles.
Uses only small amounts of electrical current
Only adverse effects reported: slight, occasional redness of the skin
The FDA has concluded that VitalStim Therapy is safe and effective
VitalStim Therapy must be prescribed by a physician. It can only be administered under the direction of certified health care professionals with at least three years' experience treating dysphagia.
The contraindications for VitalStim Therapy are specific to patients suffering from dysphagia. Caution should be used with patients who have cardiac demand pacemakers. Its use is contraindicated with patients who are severely demented and exhibit non-stop verbalization. Constant verbalization could result in aspiration during trials of oral intake. VitalStim Therapy is also contraindicated in patients with significant reflux due to use of a feeding tube. Such patients are prone to repeated cases of aspiration pneumonia, and the VitalStim Therapy device has not been studied in this population. Use of the VitalStim Therapy device is contraindicated in patients with dysphagia due to drug toxicity. Patients suffering from drug toxicity could aspirate during trials of oral intake.
