Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing in swallowing disorders – fees-. Case report at Popayán, Colombia.

Abstract

Dysphagia is a frequently pathological condition in pa­tients with stroke and carries a substantial risk of dehy­dration, malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia. So far there are two methods for diagnosis; Videofluoroscopy (VFC) and Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swa­llowing (FEES). The first is considered the gold standard method, with a high cost, radiation exposure that requires the transfer of the patient to radiology, the patient’s abili­ty to follow simple commands and time required to com­plete. VFC does not replicate physiological conditions in which the patient is routinely, so it is considered that its representation is limited, the second test is an alternative procedure to be more economical, safe, well tolerated, wi­dely available, lasting approximately 20 minutes and with the possibility of doing it in the patient’s bed. Unlike FVC, to evaluate the presence of pharyngeal, this correlates with the risk of aspiration. Clinical report: The objective of this report is to present a male patient, 33 years old, who admitted to a health institution because it presents a clini­ cal picture compatible with stroke, as findings found right hemiplegia and swallowing disorder, as required gastros­tomy tubes. We performed Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evalua­tion of Swallowing (FEES) as a diagnostic method, which allowed visualization of the anatomic and functional en­vironment, the type of food consistency could be secure in their feeding process, thus avoiding silent aspirations and insights that could lead an aspiration pneumonia. It also allowed the group to make recommendations for nutritio­nal support, physiotherapy and speech therapy for ambu­latory management of the patient.