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Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: neilep on 29/01/2008 20:33:24

Title: Why Do Things Go Down The Wrong Hole ? (A swallowing question !!)
Post by: neilep on 29/01/2008 20:33:24
Dear Science Peeps with degrees in Chokeology,

See Mr and Mrs Trout here ?

 [ Invalid Attachment ]
To avoid disambiguation I have gone to great efforts
 to individually point them out to ewe.


Oh dear !...they do seem a little discombobulated don't they ?...they are confused...oxygen is running out !!....I do hope a passing Heimlich manoeuvre expert wanders in and helps them !!...anyway...........before I raise the alarm they did manage to morse code to me that they have both swallowed a pea ....but it's gorn down the wrong hole !!...thankfully I can understand their banging their heads on the wall and table.

I dearly would like to be in a position where I can deliver to them the grand news as to how this predicament arose. People can eat on the run, upside down, in zero gravity !

So, how do things get swallowed down the wrong hole ?...even when you're just eating nice and calmly at the table ?

I don't want to ruin the surprise so I'll give them first aid when I have an answer ! Lucky them !!...they will be happy and full of joy !



Title: Why Do Things Go Down The Wrong Hole ? (A swallowing question !!)
Post by: Karen W. on 29/01/2008 20:36:26
I do not know the answer, but have swallowed my on Saliva down the wrong pipe without eating anything.. was terrible as if it had bulk and bones... Was really awful!

Sometimes I think it may be the act of taking a "Breath In" too quickly that draws in into the airway instead of the correct route! Especially when there is food in the mouth or water saliva etc. Just Breathing in for a gasp of air while chewing drinking or swallowing!
Title: Why Do Things Go Down The Wrong Hole ? (A swallowing question !!)
Post by: opus on 29/01/2008 20:45:31
Happened to me with a piece of nut chocolate when I was ill-advisely stretching up to take down christmas cards. I couldn't make a sound, or breathe in or out. Luckily daughter realised when she saw me throwing myself against the kitchen sink ,to try to dislodge something, and she successfully did the heimlich manoeuvre, so saving my life- as she constantly reminds me, especially when she needs cash!
Title: Why Do Things Go Down The Wrong Hole ? (A swallowing question !!)
Post by: paul.fr on 29/01/2008 20:46:49
perhaps this may help, it went down the wrong hole (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=7498.0)
Title: Why Do Things Go Down The Wrong Hole ? (A swallowing question !!)
Post by: neilep on 29/01/2008 21:16:27
I do not know the answer, but have swallowed my on Saliva down the wrong pipe without eating anything.. was terrible as if it had bulk and bones... Was really awful!



Sometimes I think it may be the act of taking a "Breath In" too quickly that draws in into the airway instead of the correct route! Especially when there is food in the mouth or water saliva etc. Just Breathing in for a gasp of air while chewing drinking or swallowing!

That sounds like a really good answer re: the breathing in whilst eating thingy !!..Thank You Karen Mam [:)]
Title: Why Do Things Go Down The Wrong Hole ? (A swallowing question !!)
Post by: neilep on 29/01/2008 21:17:58
Happened to me with a piece of nut chocolate when I was ill-advisely stretching up to take down christmas cards. I couldn't make a sound, or breathe in or out. Luckily daughter realised when she saw me throwing myself against the kitchen sink ,to try to dislodge something, and she successfully did the heimlich manoeuvre, so saving my life- as she constantly reminds me, especially when she needs cash!

I for one would also like to thank your daughter and you too for this valuable insight into choking non-joy !!

Thank You OPUS....glad you're still here to tell us about it !!
Title: Why Do Things Go Down The Wrong Hole ? (A swallowing question !!)
Post by: neilep on 29/01/2008 21:20:34
perhaps this may help, it went down the wrong hole (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=7498.0)

Grrr !!....*le sigh*...my apologies Mr Paul sir !!......and thanks for the excellent link !...just treat the inside of my head as a vast cavity and the echo of your original question has just made contact with something inside my skull.......probably also the size of a pea !! [;D]

Title: Why Do Things Go Down The Wrong Hole ? (A swallowing question !!)
Post by: neilep on 29/01/2008 21:21:23
ooops !!..I think it might be too late for Mr & Mrs Trout..... [;)].....are black and white people normally blue ?
Title: Why Do Things Go Down The Wrong Hole ? (A swallowing question !!)
Post by: Karen W. on 29/01/2008 21:25:36
I do not know the answer, but have swallowed my on Saliva down the wrong pipe without eating anything.. was terrible as if it had bulk and bones... Was really awful!





Sometimes I think it may be the act of taking a "Breath In" too quickly that draws in into the airway instead of the correct route! Especially when there is food in the mouth or water saliva etc. Just Breathing in for a gasp of air while chewing drinking or swallowing!



That sounds like a really good answer re: the breathing in whilst eating thingy !!..Thank You Karen Mam [:)]

Your welcome.. but I can only offer a logical answer not professional as you know!...Just practical observation.. and by the way I don't think its breathing in through the nose but through the mouth that would more likely have that undesired effect!..but I suppose both could do it!
Title: Why Do Things Go Down The Wrong Hole ? (A swallowing question !!)
Post by: JnA on 30/01/2008 13:52:16
The epiglottis acts as a cover for the trachea most of the times you swallow... sometimes (as with the footy) one gets in before the epiglottis has time to block.

In current First Aid in Australia, the Heimlich manouveur is no longer used for a partial or complete blockage of the airway.. I don't know why (maybe because of potential damage) seems like it should be just taught better *shrug*
Title: Why Do Things Go Down The Wrong Hole ? (A swallowing question !!)
Post by: opus on 30/01/2008 19:57:20
I ' ve heard that broken ribs can occur, but for one I'm glad it was done on me!!!!! Chew carefully out there folks and thankyou neilip.
Title: Why Do Things Go Down The Wrong Hole ? (A swallowing question !!)
Post by: JnA on 30/01/2008 23:32:51
but for one I'm glad it was done on me!!!!!


I agree, even if it means you will forever be hearing, "I saved your life and you can't buy me a measly boat/house/car"  [;)]






Yes.. masticate with care
Title: Why Do Things Go Down The Wrong Hole ? (A swallowing question !!)
Post by: paul.fr on 30/01/2008 23:36:39
Yes.. masticate with care

should I? Dare I?
oh heck, i will leave it to the beaver.
Title: Why Do Things Go Down The Wrong Hole ? (A swallowing question !!)
Post by: iko on 04/02/2008 21:11:53
...from rosalinDNA (A-Z)

H is for the Heimlich Manouevre (sp).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Heimlich

Heimlich maneuver
Heimlich first published his findings about the maneuver in a June 1974 informal article in Emergency Medicine entitled, "Pop Goes the Cafe Coronary." On June 19, 1974, the Seattle Post reported that retired restaurant owner Isaac Piha used the procedure to rescue choking victim Irene Bogachus in Bellevue, WA.

From 1976-1985, the American Heart Association and American Red Cross choking rescue guidelines taught rescuers to first perform a series of backblows to remove the FBAO (foreign body airway obstruction); if backblows failed, then rescuers were taught to proceed with the Heimlich maneuver (a/k/a abdominal thusts). After a July 1985 American Heart Association conference, backblows were removed from choking rescue guidelines. From 1986-2005, the Heimlich maneuver was the only recommended treatment for choking in the published guidelines of the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross.

Year 2005 choking rescue guidelines published by the American Heart Association ceased referring to "the Heimlich maneuver" and instead called the procedure "abdominal thrusts." The new guidelines stated that chest thrusts and back blows may also be effective treatments for choking.

In Spring 2006, the American Red Cross "downgraded" the use of the Heimlich maneuver, essentially returning to the pre-1986 guidelines. For conscious victims, the new guidelines (nicknamed "the five and five"), recommend first applying five backblows; if this method fails to remove the airway obstruction, rescuers were to then apply five abdominal thrusts. For unconscious victims, the new guidelines recommend chest thrusts, a method first recommended in a 1976 study by Charles Guildner MD whose results were duplicated in a year 2000 study by Audun Langhelle MD. The 2006 guidelines also eliminated the phrase "Heimlich maneuver" and replaced it with the more descriptive "abdominal thrust."

Dr. Heimlich's promotion of the use of abdominal thrusts in cases of near-drowning and to treat asthma has been dogged by allegations of fraud based on the research of his son, Peter M. Heimlich. The 2005 drowning rescue guidelines of the American Heart Association removed all citations or articles written by Dr. Heimlich and warn against the use of the Heimlich maneuver for drowning rescue as unproven and dangerous, since it may induce vomiting leading to aspiration.

On May 28, 2003, Heimlich's 30-year colleague and co-author, Edward A. Patrick MD PhD of Union, Kentucky, issued a press release stating he was the uncredited co-developer of the maneuver. From Outmaneuvered by Thomas Francis, Radar Magazine, November 10, 2005:

"I would like to get proper credit for what I've done," Patrick told me. "But I'm not hyper about it." Patrick's ex-wife Joy tells a different story: Whenever my kids would say "Heimlich maneuver," he would correct them and say, "Patrick maneuver."


Title: Why Do Things Go Down The Wrong Hole ? (A swallowing question !!)
Post by: iko on 04/02/2008 21:16:59
More pictures to see the rigid air tube (trachea) and the soft-flattened esophagous behind (food):

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aafp.org%2Fafp%2F20000415%2F2453_f1.jpg&hash=1b47e994a56e68c2485a7b91d2dbe8b6)   (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aafp.org%2Fafp%2F20000415%2F2453_f3.jpg&hash=35364ff70c81502c6d6cda85bfa6d72f)
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000415/2453_f1.jpg
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000415/2453_f3.jpg



Yep. My dad says that you should eat things slowly, incase it goes down the breathing hole. That's why, when you eat powder of some sort, ya know, fizzy powder and things. You should lick them, and not suck them up with air.
You lucky young man.
You have a wise, patient and experienced father to be proud of.
It is very important to know the basics of these simple things:
it is easy anatomy and shouldn't be restricted to nurses and docs.
You may simply save a life knowing how it works and what should be done.
Little kids swallow grapes or round objects frequently,
even little toys, and may choke to death in minutes.
You will have to ACT, quick.
Somebody else will call 911.
Little Big Seany IS fast.

ikod

P.S.
the key word for a web search could be: "foreign objects"
You lucky boy of the new www. millennium!


Tankz yoo! [;D]