Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of the swallowing in neurogenic dysphagia: A proposal of an algorithm for fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of the swallowing in neurology hospitals in Mexico

Abstract

Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) is an established and one of the most commonly used methods for assessing patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia. At least 50% of neurological patients, especially those with acute stroke, present with oropharyngeal dysphagia. These patients have a three-fold increased risk of pneumonia and poor outcome. FEES in oropharyngeal dysphagia is an important tool in early evaluation of neurological patients where dysphagia is suspected. FEES allows objectively evaluate deglutition, determine the risk of aspiration, detect silent aspirations, and implement initial therapeutic measures in patients with neurological disease. Our goal is to describe some basic concepts of FEES and propose an algorithm for the evaluation and assessment of patients with neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia in neurology hospitals and stroke centers in Mexico.