Overview
Airway Obstruction Is a Ventilation Emergency
When a toddler suddenly chokes on food or an object, the immediate problem is mechanical: air cannot pass through the upper airway.
When a toddler suddenly chokes on food or an object, the immediate problem is mechanical: air cannot pass through the upper airway. A round, non-compressible object, such as a balloon, can seal the passage completely. Complete obstruction rapidly causes hypoxia and may progress to cardiac arrest. The first bedside question is not what the radiograph shows; it is whether the child can move air. An effective cough means that some airflow remains. Inability to cough or speak, cyanosis, or loss of consciousness signals complete obstruction and changes the response immediately.