AHA/ASA 2026 Guideline Now Recognizes Pharyngeal Electrical Stimulation for Stroke Rehabilitation

Newly updated recommendation extends consideration of PES into stroke rehabilitation and recovery, further advancing Phagenesis' mission to restore swallowing function, independence and dignity after stroke

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A new 2026 guideline from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) – the first update to its stroke rehabilitation and recovery guidance in 10 years – includes pharyngeal electrical stimulation (PES) as a therapy that may be considered to improve swallowing function in patients with severe dysphagia post-stroke. This marks a significant development for Phagenesis, a commercial-stage company pioneering neuromodulation therapy for swallowing disorders, whose Phagenyx^® System is the first and only commercially available system delivering PES.

Published August 27, 2026, in Stroke, the 2026 Guideline for Adult Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery states: "For patients with stroke-associated dysphagia, pharyngeal electrical stimulation (PES) may be considered to improve swallowing function, increase tolerance of food textures, reduce the risk of negative health outcomes and improve quality of life."

The new Class 2b recommendation reflects a growing body of evidence surrounding PES over the past decade, including a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and a 2025 postextubation trial led by Suntrup-Krueger and colleagues.

This adds to the January 2026 inclusion of PES in the AHA/ASA's Guideline for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke. Together, the two guidelines now recognize the benefits of PES across the full continuum of stroke care, from acute hospitalization through rehabilitation and recovery.

"For patients, recovery is about more than surviving a stroke – it is about regaining the ability to eat and drink safely and returning to greater independence," said Phagenesis CEO Chad Hoskins. "This growing recognition of PES reflects the strength of the evidence our clinical and academic partners have built over many years. "

The Phagenyx System is a catheter-based neuromodulation system that delivers electrical stimulation to sensory nerves in the pharynx and is used in addition to standard dysphagia care. In the United States, the Phagenyx System is cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an aid to improve swallowing in patients with severe dysphagia post-stroke.

Dysphagia impacts 45% of stroke patients and is associated with serious complications and healthcare economic consequences, including a three-times higher risk of pneumonia, 40% longer hospital stays and eight-times higher risk of death at three months, all at an increased cost to the hospital.

"Dysphagia doesn't resolve the moment a patient leaves the ICU. It remains one of the most significant barriers to recovery well into rehabilitation," said Les Fuchs, regional director Rehab Services, North Baptist Health South Florida. "Having an evidence-based tool that's now recognized across both the acute and rehabilitation phases of stroke guidelines gives clinicians a stronger, more consistent framework for treating it wherever a patient is in their recovery."

The new guideline adds to the clinical evidence supporting Phagenyx, which includes more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and nine randomized controlled trials. Published studies have reported improvements in swallowing safety, dysphagia severity, return to oral nutrition, feeding-tube dependency and hospital length of stay in studied populations.

About Phagenesis
Phagenesis is an early neurointervention company transforming recovery for patients with severe post-stroke dysphagia through its core technology, the Phagenyx^® System, which delivers pharyngeal electrical stimulation (PES) to restore safe and efficient swallowing. In the U.S., Phagenyx holds FDA De Novo marketing authorization and Breakthrough Device Designation for severe post-stroke dysphagia; in Europe, it is CE-marked for neurogenic dysphagia caused by a range of neurological conditions. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Manchester, U.K., with U.S. headquarters in Nashville, Tenn., Phagenesis is backed by leading healthcare investors including EQT Life Sciences, Sectoral Asset Management, British Business Bank, Northern Gritstone and Aphelion. For more information, visit phagenesis.com.

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SOURCE Phagenesis