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Signs and symptoms of foreign body aspiration vary based on the site of obstruction, the size of the foreign body, and the severity of obstruction. [2] 20% of foreign bodies become lodged in the upper airway, while 80% become lodged in a bronchus. [6]
Choking, also known as foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO), is a phenomenon that occurs when breathing is impeded by a blockage inside of the respiratory tract. An obstruction that prevents oxygen from entering the lungs results in oxygen deprivation .
Airway obstruction is commonly caused by the tongue, the airways itself, foreign bodies or materials from the body itself, such as blood or vomit. [ 2 ] Contrary to advanced airway management , basic airway management technique do not rely on the use of invasive medical equipment and can be performed with less training.
The causes of upper airway obstructions can be acute or chronic. Acute causes of upper airway obstruction include foreign body aspiration, blunt trauma to the neck, infection, and swelling due to allergies or other inflammatory conditions. [3] In children, viral infections such as croup or epiglottitis are frequent causes. [4]
Treatment includes different maneuvers that aim to remove the foreign body that is obstructing the airway. This type of obstruction most often occurs when someone is eating or drinking. Most modern protocols, including those of the American Heart Association , American Red Cross and the European Resuscitation Council , [ 5 ] recommend several ...
Airway obstruction: Obstruction may occur in the upper and lower airway. Upper airway: Obstruction of the upper airway is common in infants less than 3 months old because they are nose breathers. Nasal blockage may easily lead to upper airway obstruction in infants. For other ages, upper airway obstruction may occur from a foreign body or edema ...
An airway obstruction can be caused by either an intraluminal mass such as a tumor or a foreign body. [31] The presence of an airway obstruction leads to a cycle of inflammation. [3] It is important to identify the presence of an obstruction because surgical resection is often curative if obstruction is the cause. [32]
Mechanical obstruction: In this instance, a physical object obstructs the airway of the patient. In most cases this is the patient's own tongue, [ citation needed ] as the unconsciousness leads to a loss of control and muscle tone , causing the tongue to fall to the back of the pharynx , creating an obstruction.