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How To Determine The Food Has Gone Down To The Right Pipe After Recovering From Choking?
My 23 year old son choked this evening at dinner. My younger son and I performed the Heimlich on him and got him breathing. The food didnt come out, but we have been watching him for the past hour and believe it has gone down. Unfortunately I think we may have cracked or broken a rib. How can we be sure that the food has gone down to his stomach? Can it go "down the wrong pipe" into his lungs? He is breathing fine...but I dont know whether to take him to the ER or not.
Fri, 27 Jun 2014
Hi,
Thanks for writing in.
If food enters the airway then it will cause a violent cough and get thrown out by itself in most cases. If he is breathing normally then the food should have gone down the food pipe. Please observe him for any symptoms of breathing discomfort, continuous cough or chest pain and if present then you must take him to ER. Please give him fluids and juices to drink if he is able to drink.
Thanks for writing in.
If food enters the airway then it will cause a violent cough and get thrown out by itself in most cases. If he is breathing normally then the food should have gone down the food pipe. Please observe him for any symptoms of breathing discomfort, continuous cough or chest pain and if present then you must take him to ER. Please give him fluids and juices to drink if he is able to drink.
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