Quality Care, Mobile Delivery

Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) is a well-established technique that has revolutionized the field of swallow diagnostics and is performed by a Speech-Language Pathologist. FEES is a sensitive, accurate, portable, and safe examination that yields clinically useful information relative to swallowing physiology and swallowing safety. FEES can be done at the patient’s bedside, in an office, intensive care unit or in a long-term care facility in under 20 minutes with regular food and liquids. Since there is absolutely no radiation administered, the studies are able to be sustained for longer time intervals, allowing the clinicians the ability to tell if a patient’s swallowing technique is impacted by fatigue.

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The Modified Barium Swallow Study (MBSS), also known as video-fluoroscopic swallow study, is a common, older procedure for the assessment of dysphagia. It is performed in the video-fluoroscopy suite in a hospital involving a radiologist, a radiology technologist and a speech-language pathologist. The patient must be seated in an upright position and fed barium coated food while being x-rayed. The MBSS is time limited in order to reduce radiation exposure for the patient. The time limitation doesn’t allow for impact of fatigue on a patient’s ability to swallow effectively. Food and liquid consistencies are simulated through the use of liquid barium and barium pastes. Whereas with FEES, patients can enjoy real food during the procedure.

FEES has repeatedly demonstrated a sensitivity equal to or greater than MBSS in determining whether a patient is exhibiting penetration, aspiration, delay in swallowing initiation and pharyngeal residue. Additionally, FEES provides visualizations of pharyngeal secretions that cannot be detected during MBSS.

• No need to coordinate time with radiology department schedule
• No radiation exposure with FEES
• No unpleasant barium-tainted food and no barium-associated constipation for patients
• No waiting to be cleared from isolation precautions
• FEES can be used with patients on mechanical ventilation
• Normal food is given to patients
• FEES can be performed while a patient is sitting upright or in bed
• FEES can be performed easily on morbidly obese patients
• FEES can be given to medically complex patients who otherwise would not tolerate a trip outside of their facility/home
• Physician does not have to be present during a FEES study
• FEES is displayed and recorded in High Definition digital color
• Real time visualization and recording allows for documenting functional and structural details
• Reduced administration costs when compared to MBSS