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Airway obstruction in children aged less than 5 years: the prehospital experience

Gary M Vilke1, Alan M Smith, Leslie Upledger Ray

  • 1San Diego County Division of Emergency Medical Services, San Diego, California, USA.

Prehospital Emergency Care
|April 3, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Most pediatric choking episodes resolve before advanced life support (ALS) arrives, but understanding causes and reinforcing age-specific skills for parents and providers is crucial for child airway obstruction management.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Public Health
  • Prehospital Care

Background:

  • Choking incidents in children are a significant concern, yet detailed data on their causes are limited.
  • Understanding the specific etiologies of pediatric airway obstruction is essential for effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency and categorize the causes of airway obstruction in children under five years old requiring advanced life support (ALS) ambulance response.
  • To analyze the circumstances surrounding pediatric choking emergencies, including patient demographics, obstruction types, and parental interventions.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective analysis of a prehospital database was conducted.
  • Data collected included obstruction type, child's age, parental actions, paramedic interventions, and outcomes for pediatric airway obstruction cases.

Main Results:

  • Out of 182 children under five with airway obstruction, 55% were infants under one year old.
  • Liquid and food items were common causes, with different prevalences based on age. Most obstructions resolved before paramedics arrived.
  • Parental interventions varied, and advanced life support skills were rarely needed. A significant percentage of parents refused transport against medical advice.

Conclusions:

  • While many pediatric airway obstruction cases resolve spontaneously before emergency services arrive, reinforcing age-specific and item-specific treatment knowledge for parents and prehospital providers is vital.
  • Further education on choking prevention and immediate management can improve outcomes for young children experiencing airway emergencies.
Abstract

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