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Infants choking following blind finger sweep

Hasan A Abder-Rahman1

  • 1Forensic Medicine and Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. toxico@ju.edu.jo

Jornal De Pediatria
|May 16, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Blind finger sweeps to remove pharyngeal foreign bodies in infants can be fatal. This technique, often used in emergencies, carries significant risks for young children, leading to airway obstruction and death.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Pathology
  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Pharyngeal foreign body aspiration is a common pediatric emergency.
  • The blind finger sweep is a frequently employed, though controversial, first-aid maneuver.

Observation:

  • Three infant deaths were linked to blind finger sweeps for pharyngeal foreign bodies.
  • The foreign bodies included a chickpea, marble, and short pencil, varying in size and shape.
  • Infants under one year were particularly vulnerable.

Findings:

  • Blind finger sweeps in crying infants are associated with fatal outcomes.
  • Foreign body characteristics (size, shape, smoothness) influence the risk of airway entry.
  • The maneuver can inadvertently push objects deeper into the respiratory tract.

Implications:

  • Healthcare providers should educate parents on safer choking first-aid techniques.
  • Rethinking the blind finger sweep as a primary intervention for infant choking is crucial.
  • Further research into effective and safe foreign body removal methods for infants is warranted.
Abstract

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