Swallow Evaluations (FEES)

Med Center Health offers Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), a tool that allows a speech-language pathologist (SLP) to assess how well a patient swallows. It can help determine if you are having any problems when food or liquid passes through your throat.

WHAT IS DYSPHAGIA?

Dysphagia is a problem with the muscular coordination that is needed for normal swallowing. When you have trouble swallowing, food or fluid can go into the lungs, which can lead to pneumonia and other problems. It is important to identify and treat dysphagia promptly.

WHY DO YOU NEED A FEES?

If you have any of these symptoms of dysphagia, you might need a FEES:

  • Sensing that food is getting stuck in your throat
  • Coughing or getting choked during meals
  • Experiencing pain when swallowing

If you have one of the following medical conditions that puts you at risk for dysphagia, you might need a FEES even if you don’t have symptoms.

  • Stroke
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Head injury
  • Conditions that lead to decreased saliva (such as Sjogren’s syndrome)
  • Parkinson’s disease or other neurologic conditions
  • Muscular dystrophies
  • Recurrent pneumonia (can be caused by dysphagia)

HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE PROCEDURE

Do not eat anything for one hour prior to the FEES. Let your SLP know if you have had neck, throat or nose surgery or if you take blood thinners. If you need to do anything additional to prepare, the SLP will let you know.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE PROCEDURE?

You will be seated and awake for the procedure.

A thin, flexible instrument (endoscope) will be passed through your nose to your throat. You may feel mild discomfort or experience a gagging or sneezing sensation. You may request an anesthetic to be sprayed in your nose to minimize this.

The SLP uses a video screen to view parts of your throat as you swallow. First, the structures of your throat and voice box are evaluated.

Next, you will be given small amounts of food or liquid to evaluate your swallowing with different textures and sizes. To make it easier to view on the screen, the SLP may add food coloring to the food or liquid.

The endoscope is then pulled out from your throat and nose. The procedure typically lasts 5-10 minutes.

You will be able to drive yourself home and resume normal activities.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

In many cases, you will receive your results immediately after the test. If your results indicate you have problems swallowing, your SLP and healthcare provider will develop a personalized treatment plan to help reduce your risk for future complications. The plan may include swallowing therapy, changing the types of foods you eat or your positioning while you eat. The SLP may also teach you methods for better swallowing.