Abstract: Objective To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture combined with doctor- nurse cooperation mode on stroke- associated pneumonia in patients with acute stroke. Methods 67 patients of acute stroke within 1 week in our hospital from March, 2013 to January, 2015 were randomly divided into control group (n=35) and treatment group (n=32). Both groups received neurological routine treatment and systematic rehabilitation training by professional physiotherapists under general nursing mode. The treatment group received acupuncture treatment under doctor-nurse cooperation mode additionally. Incidence of stroke-associated pneumonia, swallow function and aspiration rate were recorded. Results Compared with the control group, the incidence of stroke-associated pneumonia significantly decreased in the treatment group after treatment (χ2=4.615, P=0.032). The retention volume of epiglottic vallecula and pyriform sinus (tdilute barium=21.01, tthick barium= 19.85), the duration of pharynx period (tdilute barium=17.03, tthick barium=13.68), and the start time of pharynx period (tdilute barium=19.63, tthick barium=17.86) were less in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). In the test of dilute barium, the aspiration rate was lower in the treatment group than in the control group (χ2=4.03, P=0.044), however, there was no significant difference between 2 groups in the test of thick barium and solid food (P>0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture combined doctor-nurse cooperation mode may decrease the rates of aspiration and stroke-associated pneumonia in acute stroke patients through improving their swallow function.

Key words: stroke-associated pneumonia, doctor-nurse cooperation mode, acupuncture, swallow