Having trouble swallowing? Let's do an FEES Checkup

Friends of Hermina, have you ever experienced that every time you eat food, you feel something stuck in your throat? Sometimes, you also cough or choke when drinking water. Be aware that you may have difficulty eating. Dysphagia is a condition that can affect anyone, especially the elderly. To properly treat this problem, FEES (Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing) is one of the important diagnostic tools.

 

FEES is a medical procedure that uses an endoscope to directly observe the swallowing process. Through an endoscope inserted slowly through the nose to the upper part of the throat, the doctor will be able to see how the structure and function of the swallowing tract works as the patient swallows different types of food and liquids. This examination is very effective in identifying disorders in the pharyngeal stage of the swallowing process.

 

Causes of difficulty swallowing

Dysphagia can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Neurological causes, such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) which can affect the nerves and muscles involved in the swallowing process.
• Structural causes, such as the presence of tumors, narrowing of the esophagus, zenker diverticulum or inflammation that alters the structure of the swallowing tract
• Other factors include advanced age, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), as well as side effects from neck radiation or previous surgery.

 

FEES examination process

• Pre-examination Preparation: Patients are asked to fast for a few hours before the procedure and it is important to inform the doctor of any allergies or existing medical conditions.
• During the Examination: The endoscope is carefully inserted through the nose into the area above the vocal cords, the patient will be asked to swallow food and liquids of various consistencies that have been given food coloring to facilitate observation, and the doctor will monitor swallowing function and look for signs of food or liquid entry into the airway.

 

Benefits of FEES Examination

• Accurate diagnosis with the doctor directly observing the swallowing process and identifying specific problems that occur.
• Results from FEES help the medical team design appropriate interventions, such as swallowing therapy or dietary changes.
• Can be used to assess the effectiveness of the therapy given and the progress of the patient's condition.

 

Therefore, if you or someone close to you experience symptoms of dysphagia, do not hesitate to consult an ENT-KL specialist for further evaluation and treatment.

 

 

 

 

Reference:

1. National Dysphagia Diet Task Force. National Dysphagia Diet: Standardization for Optimal Care. American Dietetic Association; 2002.

2. National Library of Medicine. Evaluasi endoskopi serat optic pada proses menelan (FEES). PubMed Central. 2008.