Which manoeuvre is used to treat upper airway obstructions caused by foreign bodies?

Appeared in: BTSC 3 August 2025

Explanation

The Heimlich manoeuvre, also known as abdominal thrusts, is the standard first-aid procedure for treating upper airway obstructions in adults and children over one year old.
The technique involves a rescuer applying sudden, inward and upward pressure on the abdomen between the navel and the ribcage.
This action forces the diaphragm upward, compressing the lungs and creating a strong, artificial cough to expel the foreign object from the trachea.

Option A: The Epley manoeuvre is a treatment for a balance disorder, not an airway obstruction.
Option C: The Valsalva manoeuvre involves exhaling against a closed airway and does not generate the force needed to expel a foreign body.
Option D: The Toynbee manoeuvre involves swallowing with a pinched nose and is unrelated to clearing the airway.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain First-aid for Foreign Body Airway Obstruction (FBAO) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Prompt and correct application of the Heimlich manoeuvre is a life-saving skill, as complete airway obstruction can cause irreversible brain damage or death within 3-5 minutes.
Nurses must be able to quickly assess the severity of an obstruction. If the person can cough or speak (partial obstruction), the nurse should encourage continued coughing. If not (complete obstruction), immediate intervention is required.
It is crucial to know the correct technique for different populations to avoid causing injury during the rescue.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core of the question: It asks for a specific manoeuvre to treat choking on a foreign object.
Scan the options and recall the primary use of each manoeuvre.
Recognize that the Heimlich manoeuvre is the widely known medical term for abdominal thrusts used in choking emergencies.
Differentiate it from the other options: Epley is for vertigo/dizziness, while Valsalva and Toynbee are for equalizing pressure in the ears or chest.
Conclude that the Heimlich manoeuvre is the only procedure listed that is designed to physically expel an object from the airway.
Select the Heimlich manoeuvre as the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QFcVSqTSaUOZVjSdAWxzXT

E6 Anatomy Applied Ashalatha 4e p. 96-98

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

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