Airway obstruction (AO) caused by a foreign body is the sudden obstruction or prevention of airflow between the outside environment and the lungs.
She is qualified:
- partial obstruction, where breathing remains effective.
- severe obstruction, when breathing is no longer effective or is even impossible.
Causes
The foreign bodies most commonly responsible for airway obstruction are food (nuts, peanuts, carrots, etc.) or objects (magnets, toys, etc.). Airway obstruction, which is particularly common in children, usually occurs when the person is eating, drinking or putting an object in their mouth.
Risks & Consequences
If the flow of air through the airways is blocked, oxygen cannot reach the lungs and the victim’s life is immediately at risk.
Partial obstruction of the VA may progress to severe obstruction and have the same consequences, or lead to serious respiratory complications.
Failure to clear the airway in a victim with an OVA results in prolonged oxygen deprivation, leading to loss of consciousness and cardiac arrest.
Severe airway obstruction is therefore a medical emergency that can lead to the victim’s death within a few minutes if no first-aid measures are taken immediately.
Signs
Recognising the signs of airway obstruction caused by a foreign body is crucial. This can be done within the first few seconds if you witness the incident. Otherwise, it may be difficult to recognise.
In a situational assessment, the victim is usually found eating, or playing if it is a child. During a life-threatening emergency assessment, one of the following three situations is encountered:
- The victim is conscious, is in immediate life-threatening distress and:
- brings his hands to his throat;
- can no longer speak, shout, cough or make any sound;
- keep your mouth open;
- cannot breathe or is finding it very difficult to breathe;
- stirs and quickly turns blue.
This is a serious airway obstruction. It occurs within the first few minutes following the accident.
- • the victim is conscious, showing signs of respiratory distress and
- can speak or shout;
- coughs vigorously;
- breathes, sometimes with an additional sound;
- remains fully conscious.
This situation occurs when there is a partial airway obstruction. It may last for several minutes after the accident, as breathing is not completely interrupted.
- The victim lost consciousness and she:
- is not breathing, or is breathing with great difficulty;
- is blue (cyanosis).
This situation occurs in a victim who has inhaled a foreign body, when airway clearance manoeuvres:
- were not taken immediately by the witnesses present;
- are ineffective.
Principle of emergency response
The rescue operation must ensure that:
- to clear the airways if they are completely or almost completely blocked;
- to prevent the condition from worsening in the event of partial obstruction.