If any foreign body stuck in a child's airway. Which of the following maneuver can be done to remove the obje… - NORCET 5 mains

NORCET 5 mains

Pediatric Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: NORCET 5 mains

Explanation

The Abdominal thrust (Heimlich) maneuver is the standard, recommended procedure for relieving a foreign body airway obstruction in a conscious child older than one year.
This technique works by creating an artificial cough; quick, upward thrusts to the abdomen increase intrathoracic pressure, forcing air from the lungs to expel the lodged object.
For infants under one year, the recommended procedure is different, consisting of a sequence of back blows and chest thrusts.
The other maneuvers listed have entirely different purposes and are not used for choking.

Option A: The Sellick maneuver involves applying pressure to the cricoid cartilage to compress the esophagus. This does not help clear an airway obstruction.
Option B: The Valsalva maneuver involves forcibly exhaling against a closed glottis. While it increases pressure in the chest, it is not an effective method for expelling a foreign object.
Option C: Phalen's maneuver is a physical examination test for the wrist and has no application in airway emergencies.

Visual 1: Diagram - A step-by-step illustration showing the correct hand placement and direction of thrusts for performing the Heimlich maneuver on a child.
Visual 2: Flowchart - A decision tree showing the correct emergency actions for a choking victim, starting with assessing consciousness and age (infant vs. child) to determine whether to use abdominal thrusts or back blows/chest thrusts.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Emergency management of foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) in children as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Knowing the correct, age-appropriate technique for clearing a foreign body airway obstruction is a critical, life-saving skill for any nurse or healthcare provider.
Using the wrong maneuver (e.g., abdominal thrusts on an infant) can cause serious internal injuries, and delaying the correct action can lead to hypoxia, brain damage, or death.
What if? - If the choking child becomes unconscious, the protocol changes immediately. The rescuer should stop abdominal thrusts, carefully lower the child to the ground, and begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), starting with chest compressions. Before giving breaths, the mouth should be checked for the object.

How to Approach the Question

Step 1: Identify the core clinical problem from the question stem: a child has a foreign body stuck in the airway.
Step 2: Recognize this as an acute, life-threatening emergency that requires a specific physical maneuver to resolve.
Step 3: Systematically evaluate each option based on its established medical purpose.
Step 4: Eliminate Phalen's maneuver as it's a diagnostic test for the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome).
Step 5: Eliminate the Sellick maneuver as it's used during intubation to prevent aspiration, not to clear an obstruction.
Step 6: Eliminate the Valsalva maneuver as its primary uses relate to cardiovascular regulation and pressure equalization, not expelling foreign bodies.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Emergency management of foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) in children.
Stem keywords: foreign body, child's airway, maneuver, remove object
Lead-in keywords: Which of the following
Clinical cues: The phrase 'child's airway' signals a pediatric emergency, requiring age-appropriate intervention.

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