Protocols for the Early Detection of Dysphagia in the Emergency Room: A Systematic Review

Authors

  • Jhoan-Ferney Cacua-Peña Universidad de Pamplona, Colombia
  • Andrés Llanos-Redondo Universidad de Pamplona, Colombia
  • Andreína-Contanza Vera-Antolínez Universidad de Pamplona, Colombia
  • Edwin-Mauricio Portilla-Portilla Universidad de Pamplona, Colombia
  • Adriana-Lizbet Araujo-Medina Universidad de Pamplona, Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.42.02.143.648

Keywords:

Deglutition Disorders, Emergency Service, Hospital, Clinical protocols, Protocol, Symptom Assessment, Early Diagnosis

Abstract

Objective: To describe the protocols used in emergency services for the early detection of dysphagia.
Materials and methods: A review was carried out following the guidelines established by the PRISMA
statement. Several databases were searched using specific key terms. The studies were selected according
to defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The research question was constructed using the
PIO model. Regarding the results, the search was carried out in databases such as Oxford, PubMed,
SpringerLink, SciELO, Scopus, and Taylor & Francis, using combinations of variables constructed
with DeCS and MeSH keywords. Predefined inclusion and exclusion filters were applied, resulting in
a final analytical sample of 8 articles. Results: A description of the protocols applied in the emergency service, revealing a predominance
of water tests, two protocols for the evaluation of dysphagia, and a screening tool, highlighting the
advantages of each instrument.
Conclusions: Water tests are the most widely used tools for the early detection of dysphagia in the
emergency department, as they represent the evaluation that best adapts to the characteristics and
needs of the context. This is because their applicability is straightforward, requiring less time and
offering versatility that allows the evaluator to consider different signs that are highly associated
with dysphagia.

Author Biographies

  • Jhoan-Ferney Cacua-Peña, Universidad de Pamplona, Colombia

    Fonoaudiólogo, Universidad de Pamplona (Colombia). jhoan.cacua18@unipamplona.
    edu.co.
    https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3323-0374

  • Andrés Llanos-Redondo, Universidad de Pamplona, Colombia

    Fonoaudiólogo. Especialista en Pedagogía e Investigación en el Aula. Magíster en
    Salud Pública. Doctor en Fonoaudiología. Docente, Universidad de Pamplona
    (Colombia). andres.llanos@unipamplona.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7860-8935

  • Andreína-Contanza Vera-Antolínez, Universidad de Pamplona, Colombia

    Fonoaudióloga. Especialista en Salud Ocupacional. Magister en Gerencia de Seguridad y salud en el trabajo. Docente, Universidad de Pamplona (Colombia). andreina.
    vera@unipamplona.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1598-8739

  • Edwin-Mauricio Portilla-Portilla, Universidad de Pamplona, Colombia

    Fonoaudiólogo. Especialista en Práctica Pedagógica Universitaria. Magíster en
    Educación. Doctor en Ciencias de la Educación. Docente, Universidad de Pamplona (Colombia). edwin.portilla@unipamplona.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5444-2459

  • Adriana-Lizbet Araujo-Medina, Universidad de Pamplona, Colombia

    Fonoaudióloga. Especialista en Rehabilitación de la Discapacidad Comunicativa Infantil. Magíster en Neurorehabilitación. Docente, Universidad de Pamplona (Colombia). adriana.araujo@unipamplona.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1959-4643

Downloads

Published

2026-07-09

Issue

Section

SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS (WITHOUT META-ANALYSIS)

How to Cite

Protocols for the Early Detection of Dysphagia in the Emergency Room: A Systematic Review. (2026). SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL SALUD UNINORTE, 42(2), 483-502. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.42.02.143.648

Similar Articles

1-10 of 1239

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Most read articles by the same author(s)