RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of treatment of cricopharyngeal insufficiency in chronic critical illness caused by severe brain injury using non-invasive magnetic stimulation with endoscopic navigation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients (19 men and 11 women, mean age 50±12 years) were studied. The exposure was carried out by a bipolar alternating magnetic field using an inductor located in the projection of the hyoid bone. The study compared the standard therapy and the complex of therapeutic measures, in which the proposed non-invasive magnetic stimulation method with endoscopic navigation was included. The procedure was carried out daily without regime changes, with objective control 1 time in 10 days. The duration of the first course was 10 days, followed by a decision to extend the course for another 10 days, depending on the objective dynamics. Evaluation was performed with the Rosenbek Penetration and Aspiration Scale (PAS), the Fiberoptic Endoscopic Dysphagia Severity Scale (FEDSS), The Mann assessment of swallowing ability (MASA) and the Functional oral intake scale (FOIS). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Improvements of swallowing function were observed in both groups, but qualitative changes were more pronounced in the main group. The use of the proposed method made it possible to obtain a more stable and predictable result.