Determination of the risks and benefits of oral feeding.

The dysphagia team is often faced with the dilemma of whether or not to let patients with known aspiration feed orally. The criteria that assist professionals in their final decisions may be more anecdotal than empirical. Undoubtedly, the decision-making process that is activated in determinations of oral vs. non-oral feeding will vary among institutions and by patient presentation. For some dysphagia teams, the presence of tracheal penetration of swallowed contents is sufficient indication to preclude oral feeding. For others, some amounts of aspiration are acceptable.