modified chest thrust

English

Noun

modified chest thrust (plural modified chest thrusts)

1. (emergency medicine) A first aid procedure used to treat choking in a pregnant or obese patient in which the patient's chest is pressured by the performer's thumb knuckle with their hand balled into a fist to expel air, thereby dislodging the obstruction in the windpipe. This is repeated as many times as necessary.

   The patient's face was blue from lack of oxygen induced by an airway blockage, which led a quick-thinking EMT on scene to begin modified chest thrusts.

Related terms

• abdominal-thrust maneuver