Introduction. Unfortunately, cerebral stroke remains one of the most pressing problems of modern medicine, remaining one of the leading causes of death rate in the world’s population. Our earlier studies have demonstrated that the prognosis for a disease in most cases is due to the development of complications. One of these conditions is impaired swallowing or dysphagia, which leads to the course of aspiration pneumonia. Therapy of such conditions requires not only active medicated correction. Dysphagia is an indication for full-fledged rehabilitation therapy with the participation of a speech therapist from a stroke team.

Aim: The aim of our research was to study the prevalence of this phenomenon among patients with cerebrovascular accidents and the possibilities of active intervention of specialists.

Materials and methods: During the observation period, 42 patients with acute ischemic stroke were examined. Individuals with impaired consciousness were not included in the study. Anamnestic, clinical method was used, including swallowing test. The nursing staff assisted in the observation process. 

Results: Some degree of dysphagia was found in 45% of patients, four of whom required tube feeding. Among them, 13 people had a stroke in the vertebrobasilar blood supply and 6 in the internal carotid artery system. In consequence of the changes that have taken place in the health care system of Ukraine, active screening in specialized departments, qualified speech therapy assistance is available to patients. As a result of the measures taken, it was possible to avoid the development of late complications in the form of aspiration pneumonia in all observed patients. 26 people have fully recovered their swallowing function. From medications were used medicaments that improve neuromuscular transmission and cerebral circulation. Persons requiring tube feeding were discharged at the end of the course of treatment without the need for its use.

Conclusions: Based on the data obtained, the most effective way to prevent aspiration pneumonia can be considered:
1) active rehabilitation measures carried out by the intensive care unit from the first days of hospitalization; 
2) increasing the participation of nurses in the diagnosis of the problem; 
3) training of junior medical personnel in the technique and rules of feeding such patients;
4) plausible medicamentous therapy.