Which maneuvers are included in opening the airway for an unconscious patient with suspected airway obstruction?

Which maneuvers are included in opening the airway for an unconscious patient with suspected airway obstruction?

• A. Head tilt/chin lift
• B. Suctioning first
• C. Jaw thrust (modified)
• D. Open airway maneuvers including head tilt/chin lift or jaw thrust

Answer: (D)

Opening the airway in an unconscious patient with suspected airway obstruction relies on maneuvers that reposition the tongue and soft tissues to maximize patency. The two standard techniques are the head tilt–chin lift and the jaw thrust (modified). The head tilt–chin lift is used when there’s no concern for cervical spine injury; it aligns the airway by extending the neck and lifting the chin to move the tongue away from the posterior pharynx. The jaw thrust is used when spinal injury is possible; it stabilizes the neck while displacing the mandible and tongue forward to open the airway. Because either maneuver may be appropriate depending on the situation, the maneuvers that open the airway include both head tilt–chin lift or jaw thrust. Suctioning can be used to clear obstruction, but it’s not in itself an airway-opening maneuver, and it’s typically performed as an adjunct after the airway is opened.

Opening the airway in an unconscious patient with suspected airway obstruction relies on maneuvers that reposition the tongue and soft tissues to maximize patency. The two standard techniques are the head tilt–chin lift and the jaw thrust (modified). The head tilt–chin lift is used when there’s no concern for cervical spine injury; it aligns the airway by extending the neck and lifting the chin to move the tongue away from the posterior pharynx. The jaw thrust is used when spinal injury is possible; it stabilizes the neck while displacing the mandible and tongue forward to open the airway. Because either maneuver may be appropriate depending on the situation, the maneuvers that open the airway include both head tilt–chin lift or jaw thrust. Suctioning can be used to clear obstruction, but it’s not in itself an airway-opening maneuver, and it’s typically performed as an adjunct after the airway is opened.