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Asfixia en adultos o niños inconscientes mayores de 1 año - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Maniobra de Heimlich en adulto o niño inconscientes mayor de 1 año

Definición:

La asfixia o ahogo se presenta cuando alguien no puede respirar debido a que el alimento, un juguete u otro objeto está obstruyendo la garganta o la tráquea (vías respiratorias).

Este artículo aborda la asfixia en adultos o niños mayores de un año que hayan perdido la lucidez mental (estén inconscientes).

Consideraciones generales:

La asfixia puede resultar de una bloqueo parcial o completo de las vías respiratorias:

  • Un bloqueo total es una emergencia médica.
  • Una obstrucción parcial se puede convertir rápidamente en una situación potencialmente mortal si la persona no puede respirar de manera apropiada.

Sin oxígeno, el daño cerebral permanente se puede presentar en tan sólo 4 a 6 minutos, por lo que los primeros auxilios en caso de asfixia administrados rápidamente pueden salvar una vida.

Causas:

La asfixia puede ser causada por:

  • Comer con prótesis dentales mal ajustadas, comer muy rápido o no masticar bien los alimentos.
  • Consumir alcohol (incluso una pequeña cantidad afecta el estado de conciencia).
  • Estar inconsciente e inhalar vómito.
  • Inhalar o tragarse objetos pequeños (niños pequeños).
  • Lesión en la cabeza y la cara (por ejemplo, la hinchazón, el sangrado o una deformidad pueden causar asfixia).
  • Reviewed last on: 7/16/2011
  • Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, Clinic. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Manno M. Pediatric respiratory emergencies: Upper airway obstruction and infections. In: Marx J, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009: chap 166.

Thomas SH, Brown DFM. Foreign bodies. In: Marx J, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009: chap 57.

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