Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Choking in an unconscious adult may occur when the upper airway,usually the throat or windpipe, is blocked by an object orirritation.
What are the causes and risks of the injury?
Choking is more likely if a person:
Symptoms & Signs
What are the signs and symptoms of the injury?
Signs and symptoms of choking in an unconscious adult include:
Diagnosis & Tests
How is the injury recognized?
An adult who is unconscious as a result of choking will be unresponsive. The rescuerwill be unable to push air into the lungs with mouth-to-mouth breathing.Bystanders may report an episode of choking, followed by unconsciousness.
Prevention & Expectations
What can be done to prevent the injury?
In many cases, choking can be prevented by:
Treatment & Monitoring
What are the treatments for the injury?
First aid for an unconscious adult who has choked includes the following:
What are the side effects of the treatments?
The chest compressions of CPR can cause vomiting, injuries to internal organs,or broken ribs. Vomiting can be a problem if the vomit is caught in the airwayand inhaled into the lungs. There is a possibility that none of the procedures may work, and the person maystill choke, remain unconscious, or even die.
What happens after treatment for the injury?
It is important to obtain medical care from a healthcareprofessional. Occasionally, an object will enter the lung instead of beingexpelled. This can cause coughing,wheezing, or aspiration pneumonia.
Article type: xmedgeneral