Citation

Pavitt MJ, Swanton LL, Hind M, Apps M, Polkey MI, Green M, Hopkinson NS. Thorax 2017; 72(6): 576-578.

Affiliation

NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Brompton Hospital and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College, London, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/thoraxjnl-2016-209540

PMID

28404809

Abstract

The Heimlich manoeuvre is a well-known intervention for the management of choking due to foreign body airway occlusion, but the evidence base for guidance on this topic is limited and guidelines differ. We measured pressures during abdominal thrusts in healthy volunteers. The angle at which thrusts were performed (upthrust vs circumferential) did not affect intrathoracic pressure. Self-administered abdominal thrusts produced similar pressures to those performed by another person. Chair thrusts, where the subject pushed their upper abdomen against a chair back, produced higher pressures than other manoeuvres. Both approaches should be included in basic life support teaching.

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Language: en

Keywords

Respiratory Measurement