When A Person’s Choking, How Do I Know When It Comes Out?

In this episode of RoyOnRescue, Roy answers a question that came in via email regarding a situation where the person did the abdominal thrusts but the object did not come out to the best of their knowledge. Should they keep doing chest compressions or is there something else that can be done to get the foreign body out of the victim’s airway. Be sure to watch this episode to get the answer.

 

Infant Choking, Back Slaps or Chest Thrusts?

Ever wonder what to do if an infant began choking next to you?   Ever wonder if one procedure was more effective than another?  Well, one of our students did and emailed me a question about his topic.  In this video blog entry I open up the discussion about back slaps and chest thrusts, what they do, and how they work to help a choking victim.  Then at the end, I give you the secret about which one is more effective.  Enjoy!

Clinical Pediatrics

The Choking Child—A Life-Threatening Emergency

Evaluation of Current Recommendations

Susan B. Torrey, MD

http://cpj.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/22/11/751

Volume 44, Issue 2, Pages 105-108 (April 2000)

Airway pressure with chest compressions versus Heimlich

manoeuvre in recently dead adults with complete airway

obstruction

A. Langhelleab, K. Sundeab, L. Wikc, P.A. Steend

Accepted 22 November 1999. published online 17 August 2004.

Abstract

In a previous case report a standard chest compression successfully removed a foreign body from the airway after the Heimlich manoeuvre had failed. Based on this case, standard chest compressions and Heimlich manoeuvres were performed by emergency physicians on 12 unselected cadavers with a simulated complete airway obstruction in a randomised crossover design. The mean peak airway pressure was significantly lower with abdominal thrusts compared to chest compressions, 26.4±19.8 cmH2O versus 40.8±16.4 cmH2O, respectively (P=0.005, 95% confidence interval for the mean difference 5.3–23.4 cmH2O). Standard chest compressions therefore have the potential of being more effective than the Heimlich manoeuvre for the management of complete airway obstruction by a foreign body in an unconscious patient. Removal of the Heimlich manoeuvre from the resuscitation algorithm for unconscious patients with suspected airway obstruction will also simplify training.

http://www.resuscitationjournal.com/article/S0300-9572%2800%2900161-1/abstract

Heimlich vs Back Blows/Chest Thrusts

http://medfraud.info/Koop.html

Consensus Guidelines Not Followed in 1985 Release Encouraging Heimlich Maneuver

Should I Use Abdominal Thrusts or Chest Compressions?

Ever wonder what to do if someone chokes near you?   Should you give them the Heimlich Maneuver or Chest Compressions?   In this video Blog, Roy Shaw, EMT-Paramedic answers a students question about what to do if someone chokes and if Abdominal Thrusts or Chest Compressions are better.  Roy takes a look at when to use abdominal thrusts as in the Heimlich Maneuver and when to use Chest Compressions for a person who is definitely choking.