Foreign Body Airway Obstructions And Removal

Question 1

Partial obstruction - conscious

Answer 1

Do not intervene as long as air exchange is adequate, keep patient relaxed and comfortably seated on the stretcher during transport, encourage coughing

Question 2

Complete obstruction - conscious

Answer 2

Perform abdominal thrusts until patient becomes unconscious or the object is dislodged

Question 3

Complete obstruction - unconscious

Answer 3

Position airway, begin chest compressions (30 - 1 practitioner/ 15 - 2 practitioners)
Open airway, remove any visible abject, attempt rescue breath, look for chest rise

Question 4

Aspiration

Answer 4

Inhalation of material into the airway below the level of the true vocal cords

Question 5

What does aspiration cause?

Answer 5

Increases mortality, can obstruct the airway, destroys bronchiolar tissue, introduces pathogens into the lungs, decreases patients ability to ventilate