Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Not Yet Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT07386834

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

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.

Not Yet Recruiting

Trial opening soon.

Get Notified

Key information

Conditions

Dysphagia Deglutition Disorders Digestive System Diseases Esophageal Diseases Gastrointestinal Diseases Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases Pharyngeal Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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.

Treatment and study plan

Oro-esophageal Feeding

Dietary Supplement

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.

Nasogastric Feeding

Dietary Supplement

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.

Rehabilitation care

Behavioral

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.

Primary outcomes

  1. Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale

    Time frame: Day 0 and day15

    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.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Time to improvement of one level and of the baseline Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale

    Time frame: up to 2 weeks

    The 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.

  2. Time to oral intake

    Time frame: up to 2 weeks

    The 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.

  3. Penetration-Aspiration Scale

    Time frame: Day 0 and day15

    The 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).

  4. Murray Secretion Scale

    Time frame: Day 0 and day15

    The 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.

  5. Yale Pharyngeal Residual Severity Rating Scale

    Time frame: Day 0 and day15

    The 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.

  6. Aspiration

    Time frame: up to 6 weeks

    Aspiration 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.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Zeng Changhao

Other

Registry information

Official study title

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

Acronym: IOEfinal

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Feb 4, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 11, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.