Which maneuver is used to remove foreign body airway obstruction?

AIIMS Delhi NO - 2017

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS Delhi NO - 2017

Explanation

The Heimlich maneuver is the standard emergency procedure for clearing a foreign body airway obstruction in a conscious person.
It involves applying a series of abdominal thrusts to increase intrathoracic pressure, effectively creating an artificial cough.
This forceful expulsion of air from the lungs is intended to dislodge and eject the object blocking the airway.
The image provided correctly demonstrates the hand placement and action for performing this life-saving maneuver.

Option A: The Leopold maneuver is an obstetric procedure used to determine the position of the fetus within the uterus.
Option B: The Pinard maneuver is another obstetric procedure, specifically used to assist in the delivery of a baby in a breech presentation.
Option C: The jaw thrust maneuver is a technique to open a patient's airway but does not remove a foreign body.

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) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Recognizing the signs of choking and responding quickly with the correct maneuver is a critical skill for nurses and the general public to prevent death from asphyxiation.
Nurses must be able to differentiate between airway opening techniques (like jaw thrust) and obstruction removal techniques (like Heimlich maneuver) to apply the correct intervention in an emergency.
What if? If the choking person becomes unconscious, the intervention changes. The nurse should immediately stop abdominal thrusts, carefully lower the person to the floor, call for help, and begin CPR, starting with chest compressions. Before giving breaths, the airway should be checked for the foreign object.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key concept in the question: removing a 'foreign body airway obstruction'. This indicates a choking emergency.
Next, analyze the provided image, which shows a person performing abdominal thrusts on another, a classic depiction of an anti-choking procedure.
Evaluate each option based on its medical purpose.
Eliminate 'Leopold maneuver' and 'Pinard maneuver' as they are both related to obstetrics (pregnancy and childbirth), not airway emergencies.
Differentiate between 'Jaw thrust maneuver' and 'Heimlich maneuver'. Recognize that jaw thrust opens an airway but does not expel an object, whereas the Heimlich maneuver is specifically designed to expel an object.
Conclude that the Heimlich maneuver is the correct procedure for the situation described in the question and shown in the image.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QMZ9YQWDmwzed5eGUnC_El

E6 Anatomy Applied Ashalatha 4e p. 96-98

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 602-604

E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 2 Part 3 p. 115-117