Choking Patient

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, ED, Psych.

Just out of curiosity....I retook my BLS class and it goes over the heimlich. Thats fine and dandy if you are in a mall or a public place.

But, What if a patient in bed is choking? What do we do and how?

The BLS instructor danced around my question and gave some remark about looking at hospital policy -

Thankfully this has never happened to me (yet) but if it happened to any of you - let me know.

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Specializes in LTC.

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

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

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.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, ED, Psych.

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

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Specializes in LTC.
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...:lol2:

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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.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Oncology.

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!

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

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)

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, ED, Psych.
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)

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

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Specializes in OB, Med/Surg, Ortho, ICU.

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.

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Specializes in ED, Long-term care, MDS, doctor's office.

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:)

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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 :yeah:

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