Fiberoptic endoscopic examination of swallowing safety: A new procedure

A new procedure for assessing the pharyngeal stage of swallowing in patients with dysphagia is described. Called the fiberoptic endoscopic examination of swallowing safety (FEESS), it is being used to detect aspiration and to determine the safety of oral feeding in patients for whom the traditional videofluoroscopic evaluation may be difficult or impossible to perform. Patients for whom the FEESS procedure is indicated are identified and...