Why would you perform chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts for an adult with an obstructed airway?

Performing chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts is particularly essential when dealing with patients who are in a wheelchair. In this position, abdominal thrusts can be difficult or impossible to administer effectively due to the constraints of the wheelchair's design and the patient's posture. Chest thrusts provide a viable alternative that can still effectively generate the necessary pressure to relieve a severe obstruction in the airway.

When a patient is in a wheelchair, the proper leverage for abdominal thrusts is compromised, and attempting them could result in injury to the patient or ineffective clearance of the airway. Chest thrusts, which are delivered by placing the heel of one hand on the center of the patient's chest and thrusting inward and slightly upward, do not require the same position as abdominal thrusts and can be performed safely in this scenario.

Other situations might not require a switch from abdominal thrusts. For instance, if a patient is lying on the ground, you can easily adjust your body position to perform abdominal thrusts effectively. Similarly, a patient sitting in a chair may also allow for abdominal thrusts to be performed, given that there is enough space and the patient's body can be maneuvered. Lastly, a lung infection does not specifically dictate the need for chest thrusts over abdominal thrust