Deglutition assessment instruments used in critical patients submitted to orotracheal extubation: a scoping review

Abstract

Purpose: to map, through a literature survey, which instruments are used to assess swallowing in patients after orotracheal extubation. Methods: available evidence was mapped through six electronic databases and gray literature. There were no restrictions regarding gender, ethnicity of the individuals, language of the studies, time of publication, and diagnosis. Results: the most mentioned protocol in the studies was the Dysphagia Risk Evaluation Protocol and the most cited objective assessment exam was the flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. Conclusion: there is a need for a specific protocol to evaluate this profile of patients, in addition to comparative studies of subjective clinical evaluation and instrumental imaging.