Overview of Abdominal Thrust Maneuver
The Heimlich maneuver, also known as abdominal thrusts, is a first-aid procedure used to remove an object that’s blocking a person’s airway. You might learn this technique if you take a basic life support (BLS) or advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) class. However, it doesn’t always get as much focus as chest compressions or rescue breaths, despite being equally important. It’s possible to do the Heimlich maneuver on both children and adults, though the techniques might vary.
Back in the 1960s, choking on food, toys, and other objects was the sixth most common cause of accidental death in the United States. People used to respond by slapping the choking person on the back, but this often didn’t work. In some cases, it could even push the object further into the airway.
The Heimlich maneuver was first introduced by Dr. Henry Heimlich in 1974. He suggested that a quick, upward thrust under the ribcage could use the air in the lungs to push out the object blocking the throat. However, this idea was not immediately accepted by the medical community. Even after the Heimlich maneuver was introduced, organizations like the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association kept advising people to use backslaps for another ten years.
Nowadays, the Heimlich maneuver is a commonly taught technique in BLS and ACLS classes for use on adults who are conscious. However, backslaps are still recommended for infants, and chest compressions are advised if the patient is unconscious. Over time, multiple versions of the Heimlich maneuver have been developed, and it’s not always clear which one is the most effective.
Anatomy and Physiology of Abdominal Thrust Maneuver
The Heimlich maneuver is a technique used to help someone who is choking. It works by using pressure from behind the person, by wrapping arms around them and giving a quick, upward push just below the ribs. These objects that cause choking usually get stuck above a part of the throat known as the cricoid cartilage. For the maneuver to work correctly, these pushes must happen in the upper part of the belly area (or epigastric region), below the rib cage, and the force should be directed upward towards the person’s head. If the person is pregnant, the technique changes slightly, and the thrusts are done over the chest bone, known as the sternum.
In terms of how it works within the body, the Heimlich maneuver is successful because it increases pressure inside the chest. This pressure affects the lungs, stomach, and esophagus (the tube that connects your throat to your stomach) and is achieved by pushing upwards on the diaphragm muscle, which is responsible for breathing.
Why do People Need Abdominal Thrust Maneuver
: The Heimlich maneuver, or abdominal thrusts, is primarily used when an adult is consciously choking due to a foreign object stuck above the voice box. The indication to perform this maneuver is demonstrated by the universal choking sign – when a person cannot speak, breathe, or cough and they’re holding their hands to their throat.
While it was earlier suggested that the Heimlich maneuver might help with problems like asthma or drowning, it has not been proven effective for these situations. Additionally, a case study suggested that some teenagers with eating disorders may try to use the Heimlich maneuver to induce vomiting, but this is not a safe or appropriate use of the technique.
When a Person Should Avoid Abdominal Thrust Maneuver
There aren’t any strict rules saying when you absolutely shouldn’t perform the maneuver commonly known as the Heimlich (or abdominal thrusts), but there are some situations where it’s usually not recommended. The American Heart Association says it’s typically not the best choice for babies or people who are unconscious. Also, if someone is pregnant, it’s better to do chest compressions instead of using the Heimlich maneuver.
Who is needed to perform Abdominal Thrust Maneuver?
The Heimlich maneuver is a very useful method which can be used to help someone who is choking. It was designed so that anyone, not just medical experts, can use it after a bit of training. It was introduced in 1974 by Dr. Heimlich live on TV. It wasn’t until people started sharing their experiences of how it saved lives, that the medical community began to accept it. Nowadays, it is often taught in basic life-saving classes and doesn’t need any special equipment.
Preparing for Abdominal Thrust Maneuver
Choking can occur rapidly and without any warning, making it hard to prepare for such an event. This is why the Heimlich maneuver, a technique taught during Basic Life Support training, is so important. It’s used for helping a conscious adult who’s choking.
How is Abdominal Thrust Maneuver performed
The Heimlich maneuver, also known as abdominal thrusts, is a commonly used method to help someone who is choking. In this technique, a rescuer wraps their arms around the choking person’s upper stomach area, about two inches above the belly button. The rescuer then makes a fist with one hand, covers it tightly with the other hand, and gives five strong inward and upward thrusts along the middle of the choking person’s body.
Recently, research has been conducted on other techniques for relieving choking. These include doing the abdominal thrusts all the way around the belly (circumferential abdominal thrust), using a chair to give the thrusts (chair thrust), and giving the thrusts to yourself (auto up-thrust). Studies comparing these techniques found that using a chair might be better in terms of creating stomach and throat pressures that can clear the airway.
There are also recent studies suggesting that lateral (from the side) chest and stomach thrusts may be better at generating air pressure in the airway, according to research done on pigs. Other research using manikins (medical practice dummies) in 2017 found that the Heimlich maneuver may be more effective when the choking person is lying face up or face down, for adults, and face down for children. Additionally, a recent study showed success with a modified Heimlich maneuver performed using a table on four unconscious patients.
Possible Complications of Abdominal Thrust Maneuver
The Heimlich maneuver is a well-known method used to save someone from choking. But, just like anything else, it may sometimes lead to some negative outcomes if not done correctly or if it’s done with excessive force. Various scientific studies have been conducted to understand and minimize this. While the Heimlich maneuver is generally safe and often life-saving, serious injuries can occur if it’s performed incorrectly.
There was one study conducted on mannequins (which are models used to simulate humans in medical training) that suggested that delivering more than one series of thrusts without clearing the object stuck in the throat could lead to serious injuries. The most common complications linked to the Heimlich maneuver are breaking ribs or damaging the stomach or esophagus (the tube that connects our throat to our stomach).
In rare cases, the Heimlich maneuver has been associated with other injuries, including damage to the spleen, a condition where air gets trapped between the lungs, breaking a part of the main heart valve, tearing the main artery in our body, the introduction of a hole in the diaphragm (a muscle that helps us breathe), and injuring parts of the esophagus and small intestine. Other even rare accidents have included tearing the liver, blocking an artery with cholesterol, and damaging the tissues that hold the intestines together. Although these incidents are rare, they emphasize the importance of proper training and technique when performing the Heimlich maneuver.
What Else Should I Know About Abdominal Thrust Maneuver?
The Heimlich maneuver, also known as an abdominal thrust, is an easy-to-learn technique that can be a lifesaver if somebody is choking. It doesn’t require any medical training to perform but still plays a significant role in basic life support. Even though it can occasionally lead to minor complications in the abdomen, the quick and cost-free nature of the Heimlich maneuver makes it an invaluable tool for both healthcare professionals and the general public.
When the American Heart Association (AHA) integrated the Heimlich maneuver into their basic life support (BLS) program, statistics showed that the quality and effectiveness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) increased. CPR is an emergency procedure that combines chest compressions with artificial ventilation to maintain blood flow and oxygenation during cardiac arrest.
Recent research from 2015 showed that patients who received immediate help from bystanders using techniques like the Heimlich maneuver had better outcomes than those who were initially treated at the hospital. This emphasizes the great potential of public education on basic life-saving procedures.
