Which methods can be employed to open an obstructed airway?

The head tilt-chin lift and jaw thrust techniques are fundamental maneuvers in airway management, particularly when addressing obstructions. The head tilt-chin lift is commonly utilized in unconscious patients to elevate the tongue away from the back of the throat, while the jaw thrust is preferred in suspected spinal injuries, as it minimizes head movement. Additionally, the use of airway adjuncts, such as oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airways, helps to maintain an open airway, especially when other methods may not be sufficient or when the patient is not able to maintain their own airway.

In contrast, while abdominal thrusts or back blows are valuable for clearing obstructions, particularly in patients who are choking, they are not designed specifically for maintaining an open airway in non-responsive individuals or those with other causes of obstruction. Positioning a patient in a sitting position can sometimes aid in breathing but does not inherently clear an airway obstruction, and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is not a method of opening an obstructed airway, but rather a technique used for respiratory support after the airway is already secured. Thus, utilizing the appropriate maneuvers and adjuncts is critical for effectively managing airway obstruction.