Question

A 37-year-old male has an apparent foreign body airway obstruction. He is conscious and alert and is coughing forcefully. His skin is pink, warm, and moist. The MOST appropriate treatment for this patient includes:

A. a series of back blows and chest thrusts.
B. finger sweeps to remove the obstruction.
C. a series of abdominal thrusts.
D. encouraging him to cough and transporting.

Answer 1

Encouraging the individual to continue coughing is the most suitable initial response for a conscious person who is forcefully coughing due to a foreign body airway obstruction. Further assistance such as the Heimlich maneuver should be considered only if the condition worsens.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most appropriate treatment for a conscious and alert 37-year-old male with a foreign body airway obstruction who is coughing forcefully is to encourage him to continue coughing and proceed with transporting him to medical care. If an individual is able to cough forcefully, it suggests that they can still move air and possibly expel the obstruction on their own. Hence, it is vital to encourage them to keep coughing rather than performing back blows, chest thrusts, or abdominal thrusts at this stage, which could potentially worsen the obstruction or cause injury to the individual. In the event that coughing does not resolve the obstruction and the person's condition deteriorates (they can no longer cough, speak, or breathe), one should then consider providing more invasive assistance such as the Heimlich maneuver or seeking immediate medical help.