Citation

Dupre MW, Silva EA, Brotman S. Am. J. Emerg. Med. 1993; 11(6): 611-612.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA 17822-2005.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8240565

Abstract

The case of a 93-year-old man who received a Heimlich maneuver while choking is reported. After the procedure, the patient presented with abdominal pain and ultimately was found to have developed a gastric rupture. He was hospitalized for 66 days. Review of the literature showed that only four gastric perforations related to the Heimlich maneuver have been documented. Other complications have occurred. It is reasonable to perform the procedure as an alternative to asphyxiation, but emergency physicians must be aware of the fact that life-threatening complications may ensue.

Language: en