What is the most effective method to clear an airway obstruction in infants?

The most effective method to clear an airway obstruction in infants is through the combination of back blows and chest thrusts. This technique is recommended because infants have different anatomical and physiological characteristics compared to adults and older children. The back blows help to create enough force to dislodge the obstruction while being gentle enough to avoid causing harm to the infant's fragile airway.

In this method, the caregiver delivers a series of firm back blows between the infant's shoulder blades while supporting the infant in a face-down position across their forearm. If the obstruction persists, the caregiver can then switch to a chest thrust technique, which involves turning the infant face-up and delivering short, quick thrusts just below the nipple line. This combination is specifically designed to be effective in infants, as their small size and developing respiratory system respond well to these maneuvers without posing undue risk of injury.

Other methods, such as abdominal thrusts, are not suitable for infants due to the risk of internal injury and the impracticality of applying such force to a small body. Similarly, finger sweeps and suctioning are generally not the initial recommended interventions unless you can see the obstruction and they should only be performed with caution. Rescue breaths with a bag-mask device are typically employed after the