II. Indications
- Foreign Body Aspiration with airway obstruction in children and adults
III. Precautions
- Do not perform heimlich if patient can cough or speak
IV. Management: Conscious Patient
- Stand behind patient and wrap hands around waist
- Make a fist with one hand
- Place thumb side against patient's Abdomen
- Place fist midline over naval (well below xiphoid)
- Grasp fist with other hand
- Press into patient's Abdomen with quick upward thrust
- Each thrust should be distinct
- Each thrust intended to expel foreign body
- Repeat thrusts until:
- Foreign body is expelled
- Patient becomes unconscious
V. Management: Unconscious Patient
- Perform 6-10 abdominal thrusts per cycle (5 for child)
- Check for foreign body
- Adult: Sweep deeply into mouth to remove debris
- Child
- Do NOT perform a blind finger sweep
- Remove foreign body ONLY if visualized
- Open airway and attempt to ventilate