Fiiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) is an endoscopic examination that employs a fiberoptic rhinopharyngoscope that passes through the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, and pharynx to examine the complete swallowing process. This exam can result in complications such as discomfort, gagging, vomiting, vaso-vagal syncope, anterior or posterior epistaxis or even laryngospasm, though the occurence of the latter is rare. These complications can be easily controlled but may be unavoidable for a patient with esophageal reflux problems such as the case in a patient with bulimia. However, in most cases, it is well tolerated and is easy to perform by the SLP. This allows real time video of the many stages of the swallowing process (Fiberoptic endoscopic examination," 2011)