A patient was eating dinner when he got a piece of food caught in his throat. Although coughing has failed to remove the food, he remains able to move an adequate amount of air into and out of his lungs. A nasal cannula has been applied and vital signs are stable. During transport, the patient suddenly begins to exhibit stridorous respirations. Your immediate action should be to:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sudden onset of stridorous respirations (a high-pitched, wheezing sound caused by disrupted airflow) suggests that the patient's airway is becoming more obstructed, likely due to the piece of food moving and further blocking the airway. In a conscious patient who is able to move air but is showing signs of worsening obstruction, performing abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) is the appropriate immediate action to try to dislodge the foreign body.

A Patient Was Eating Dinner When He Got a Piece