Choking Patient

Um, good question. I would think if it is possible get behind the pt. and do the thrusts.

OK, correct me if I am wrong....on an unconsious choking pt you are supposed to do chest compressions. (?) This should be covered in BLS, which should essentially be the hospital policy.

i am talking about a/o patient in bed high fowlers eating dindin and all of the sudden choking.

It sounds silly but my brain is totally farting right now

i am talking about a/o patient in bed high fowlers eating dindin and all of the sudden choking.

It sounds silly but my brain is totally farting right now

I was told to lower the head of the bed and do abdominal thrusts? I've never had to do it either. And sorry but "dindin" made me laugh...

if they are A&O have them stand up and proceed with heimlich until it clears or they lose consciousness, then provide BLS as directed.

There's absolutely no reason why you can't perform Heimlich on a patient who is choking, after all at that point it's all about clearing the airway so a choking situation doesn't turn into a code situation. Also, in the hospital setting we have the advantage of something we don't have "in the field"... suction!

Whew! I sooooo thought that somebody had snapped and actually choked a patient. I mean, I could understand being driven to do it but was kinda curious if someone actually had done it.

(nothing to see here.... move along)

Whew! I sooooo thought that somebody had snapped and actually choked a patient. I mean, I could understand being driven to do it but was kinda curious if someone actually had done it.

(nothing to see here.... move along)

- We all have had those WONDERFUL thoughts at times - your post made me laugh!

This happened to me unfortunately. Pt was in high fowlers eating breakfast, assessed him, and went to the med room to grab morning meds for my next Pt. When I walked out, I saw a HR of 35 on his tele, went in there, and he was unconscious. Began CPR, found food on his vocal chords during intubation. He didnt make it, unfortunately. He was quite elderly with little reserves.

I had a situation one time where a very large patient in a wheelchair needed the heimlick. I tried to get behind him, but couldn't get enough strength, so I had some one go get the sit to stand lift (was right next to him) & lift him up so I could get a better grip around him & it worked. This was at a LTC facility & I shipped him out for good measure, but he was just fine...I think in the hospital in this situation, I would call a code (since this is a life-threatening patient crisis) and try to get him either up or at least on the side of the bed to try to be in the best position possible to get better results...good question:)

I had a situation one time where a very large patient in a wheelchair needed the heimlick. I tried to get behind him, but couldn't get enough strength, so I had some one go get the sit to stand lift (was right next to him) & lift him up so I could get a better grip around him & it worked. This was at a LTC facility & I shipped him out for good measure, but he was just fine...I think in the hospital in this situation, I would call a code (since this is a life-threatening patient crisis) and try to get him either up or at least on the side of the bed to try to be in the best position possible to get better results...good question:)

Way to think outside the box!! You must be a wonderful nurse

I had a male resident who started choking on his meds. He was a big man and non ambulatory. He started coughing really bad and knew was struggling. I put him on high fowler's..eventually he was able to clear his throat. If he continued to be in distress my next move would have been to get on the bed and straddle him somewhat to do an abdominal thrust and get/ scream for back up.