OBJECTIVETo assess the therapeutic effect and potential adverse effect of acupuncture in treatment of dysphagia after stroke.

METHODSA systematic review including all the relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs of acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of dysphagia after stroke were performed using the method recommended by the cochrane collaboration.

RESULTSSeven papers including 506 cases met the enrolled criteria. All of the trials were of lower methodological quality. Meta-analysis of enrolled 6 trials showed that the acupuncture group had a better therapeutic effect on dysphagia after stroke than the control group (RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.08, 1.27, Z=3.78, P=0.0002). The mortality and the occurrence of pneumonia were similar between acupuncture and control groups (RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.03, 2.18 and RR 3.02, 95% CI 0.093, 23.10, respectively). The treatment group significantly reduced in time of the thick barium through pharynx examined by videofluorography (WMD -7.23, 95% CI -13.18,-1.28).

CONCLUSIONA reliable conclusion can not be drawn from the present data because of the defects in methodological quality, especially no long-term terminal outcome events, although it appears a tendency that acupuncture can improve dysphagia after stroke in short-term with no adverse effect. Therefore, it is necessary to perform more multi central randomized controlled trials in good internal validity and high quality in future.