When should a finger sweep be performed during airway obstruction?

When should a finger sweep be performed during airway obstruction?

• A. Always
• B. Only if obstruction visible
• C. Never
• D. After suctioning

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is safety: only perform a finger sweep when you can clearly see the obstruction in the mouth or airway and you can reach it safely with a gloved finger. Sweeping blindly can push the object deeper, cause tissue injury, or delay effective ventilation. So you don’t sweep in every situation, and you don’t necessarily wait until after suctioning. If the object isn’t visible, rely on other airway management steps (such as back blows or abdominal thrusts for a conscious patient, and suction/ventilation as appropriate for an unresponsive patient) rather than performing a blind sweep. When the obstruction is visible, a careful finger sweep to remove it is appropriate.

The main idea here is safety: only perform a finger sweep when you can clearly see the obstruction in the mouth or airway and you can reach it safely with a gloved finger. Sweeping blindly can push the object deeper, cause tissue injury, or delay effective ventilation. So you don’t sweep in every situation, and you don’t necessarily wait until after suctioning. If the object isn’t visible, rely on other airway management steps (such as back blows or abdominal thrusts for a conscious patient, and suction/ventilation as appropriate for an unresponsive patient) rather than performing a blind sweep. When the obstruction is visible, a careful finger sweep to remove it is appropriate.