Foreign Body Airway Obstruction

(FBAO)
Background:

A. Choking usually occurs during eating and commonly

witnessed, where rescuer intervenes when victim is still
responsive
B. Meat is the most common cause of obstruction in
conscious adult.
C. FBAO is classified into Mild/ Partial and Severe obstruction
Mild/ Partial Foreign Body Airway Obstruction

With Good Air Exchange the victim can:

speak
breath
some air escaping from the mouth
patient coughing or making a crowing
noise
with pale or bluish skin color
Management:

If victim is able to cough, DO NOT

INTERFERE!
A Strong cough is the most effective way to
remove a foreign body.
At this stage it is important to avoid giving
back blows which may cause a foreign body
to move and become a total obstruction.
Methods to relieve FBAO

Heimlich Maneuver (abdominal thrust) - only

done in conscious adults

Back blows or slaps

Chest Thrusts (infants, pregnant or obese

victim)

Risk factors of FBAO

Large, poorly chewed food

Elevated alcohol level

Loose dentures
Playing, crying, laughing and talking
while food or foreign body is inside
mouth
Prevention of FBAO
cut food into smaller pieces
chew food slowly and thoroughly

 Avoid drinking too much alcohol

remove dentures during sleep
don't laugh , or talk while food is in the
mouth
prevent children from playing, running
while food is in their mouth
Keep small object out of children's reach

Relief of FBAO in Adults

I. Scenario

A. A man, while eating, was noted

to be choking

II. Management of FBAO

A. Ask the victim "ARE YOU CHOKING?"
B. If the victim can speak in sentences and can cough effectively, don't intervene.
Wait for the victim to expel the foreign body by strong forceful cough.
C. If the victim cannot speak, nor cough effectively, stand behind the victim and Give
up to five sharp back blows between their shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.

D. If the obstruction has not cleared, stand behind them,put both arms around the
upper part of the abdomen and put one foot forward in between the victim's legs. Make
a fist with your other hand.
E. Place the thumb side of the fist on the victim's abdomen, slightly above the navel
(belly button).
F. Grasp the fist with your other hand then provide a quick distinct inward and
upward thrusts into the victims abdomen. Repeat the thrusts five times and continue
until the object is expelled or the victim becomes unconscious.
G. If this doesnt clear the obstruction repeat five backslaps and five abdominal
thrusts up to three times
H. If it still hasnt cleared, activate EMS. Continue until help arrives.

If the victim becomes UNCONSCIOUS

Activate EMS

 Start CPR. Start with chest compression

Each time you open the airway, before
delivering 2 rescue breaths, look for
visible obstruction and attempt to
remove it with finger sweep. Do not
attempt to do a blind sweep!
If victim is lying down while choking..

 Do a Modified Abdominal
Thrusts
Every after thrust check mouth
for any visible obstruction
If becomes unconscious..DO CPR