Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center is now providing patients with a new therapy called pharyngeal electrical stimulation, or PES, which is delivered via the Phagenyx Neurostimulation System. Phagenyx helps patients with dysphagia, a common condition following stroke, regain their swallowing function, and ability to eat and drink. The academic medical center is the first in New Jersey, and northeast United States, to provide this therapy.
Kevin Westpy of Howell, recently suffered a stroke. He received life-saving, emergency care at the Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at Jersey Shore University Medical Center; Monmouth & Ocean counties’ New Jersey Department of Health licensed, and Joint Commission certified Comprehensive Stroke Center. Unfortunately, Kevin lost his ability to swallow as a result of the stroke. “I’m very pleased to receive this new therapy to regain my swallowing function from the experts at Jersey Shore, rather than having to travel far from home to receive the therapy,” said Westpy.
“Every year, 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke, making it the second leading cause of cardiovascular death. Stroke survivors can suffer a range of neurological deficits, including the loss of the ability to swallow,” said Sanskriti Mishra, M.D., director of the comprehensive stroke center, Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC).
“Contemporary data suggests up to 80 percent of stroke survivors suffer severe dysphagia. Supportive efforts include intubation, tube feeding, and often surgical implantation of a feeding tube in the patient’s abdomen, called a PEG,” said Henry Park, M.D., medical director, Neuro ICU. “Dysphagia is a significant source of morbidity (an unhealthy condition), extended ICU stay, and death.”
“Traditional treatments include throat exercise and ingesting ice chips, with little meaningful, advanced technology available to help restore swallowing directly at the neurological, brain level,” said Charles Warwick, APN, manager, Advance Practice Providers, Neuro ICU.
Phagenyx PES therapy works by inserting a specialized catheter with built-in electrodes through the nose to provide small electrical pulses to stimulate critical sensory nerves within the throat (pharynx). “This is shown to reestablish communication between these nerves and the brain,” said Shabbar F. Danish, M.D., FAANS, chair of Neurosurgery, Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at JSUMC. “The treatment lasts for ten minutes a day for at least three, and up to six days. The therapy is carried out by speech pathologists based on their assessment, and is another important tool they use to help patients regain swallowing function.”
Untreated dysphagia presents a clear deficit to quality of life, increases risk of aspiration pneumonia (lung infection when saliva, gastric juices, and/or food enter the lungs) and surgical site infections, which in severe cases can lead to septic shock and death. “These patients often are readmitted to a hospital for emergency care within 30 days of their stroke,” said Vito Buccellato, MPA, LNHA, president and chief hospital executive, JSUMC. “I’m grateful we are now able to provide this advanced therapy to not only improve our patients’ quality of life, but also prevent readmission to our academic medical center.”
Since 2013, the Phagenyx system has become widely adopted in Europe and U.K. with more than 4,000 patients treated commercially, and is an important part of comprehensive stroke care guidelines. It consists of an energy base station and neuro stimulation catheter. The catheter houses two bipolar electrodes that deliver mild electric stimulation to the pharyngeal nerves at the back of the throat to jump start and mobilize swallowing areas of the brain. The catheter is positioned in the patient’s nose and follows natural anatomical paths to the throat and down to the stomach. The catheter also features a secondary function to deliver liquid nutrition while in place, if needed.
“Providing this new, advanced therapy is another way our academic medical center is transforming neurological care for our community,” said Kenneth N. Sable, M.D., MBA, FACEP, regional president, Southern Market, Hackensack Meridian Health. Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at JSUMC has received annual Neurosciences Excellence and Cranial Neurosurgery Awards from Healthgrades, recognizing exemplary patient care, since 2020. JSUMC is also recognized as a high performing hospital for stroke care by U.S. 麻豆传媒 & World Report, 2024-25, and with the Get with the Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus achievement from the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association.
Additional Hackensack Meridian medical centers may also provide this therapy in the future. For information about HMH’s neuroscience services, visit , or for a free physician referral, call 844-HMH-WELL.
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