The Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrust) is used for a patient who has?

NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2020

Nursing Foundation

Easy

Appeared in: NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2020

Explanation

The Heimlich maneuver, or abdominal thrusts, is a specific first-aid technique to relieve a foreign body airway obstruction.
It works by creating a rapid increase in intrathoracic pressure, simulating a cough, which helps to dislodge and expel the object blocking the airway.
The image provided visually demonstrates the correct hand placement and upward thrust motion required for this life-saving procedure.
This intervention is indicated when a person is conscious but unable to speak, cough, or breathe due to choking.

Option A: A bloody nose (epistaxis) is a vascular issue in the nasal passages. The correct first aid is to have the person sit up, lean forward, and apply pressure to the nostrils. Abdominal thrusts are completely unrelated and would not help.
Option C: A person who has fallen out of bed needs to be assessed for trauma, such as fractures, head injury, or internal bleeding. The priority is to assess for injury and immobilize if necessary, not perform abdominal thrusts.
Option D: Impaired eyesight is a vision problem related to the eyes or optic nerve. It requires assessment by an optometrist or ophthalmologist and has no connection to the respiratory system or airway obstruction.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to First Aid for Airway Obstruction to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Recognizing the universal sign of choking (clutching the throat) and acting quickly is a critical skill for nurses and the general public to prevent death from asphyxiation.
After successful dislodgement of a foreign object, the patient should still be medically evaluated to check for any potential injuries from the thrusts (e.g., rib fractures, internal organ damage) or complications from the object itself (e.g., aspiration pneumonia).
What if the patient becomes unconscious while you are performing the Heimlich maneuver? You should carefully lower the person to the ground, call for emergency help, and immediately begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), starting with chest compressions. Before giving rescue breaths, check the mouth for the foreign object.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question, which is the 'Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrust)'.
Recall the primary purpose of this specific medical procedure. It is a well-known first-aid technique.
Evaluate each option to see which condition matches the procedure's purpose.
Option A (bloody nose), C (fall), and D (impaired eyesight) are unrelated medical issues with different treatments.
Option B (blocked airway) directly corresponds to the indication for the Heimlich maneuver, which is to clear an obstruction from the airway.
Therefore, select the option that describes choking or airway obstruction.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QKE5scgSIrT5Zq2rjUbunG

E6 Anatomy Applied Ashalatha 4e p. 96-98

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 776-778