Complications from the Heimlich maneuver are relatively infrequent. Two fatal cases of abdominal aortic thrombosis have been reported following this technique. We report on the first patient that suffered an acute thrombosis of the abdominal aorta and survived. Prompt recognition of this complication provides the only hope of survival from this rare and catastrophic complication.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
HeimlichH. J., Pop goes the cafe coronary. Emergency Medicine, 1974, 6, 154.
2.
RoehmE. F., TwiestM. W. and WilliamsR. C.Jr., Abdominal aortic thrombosis in association with an attempted Heimlich maneuver. Jama, 1983, 249 (9), 1186–1187.
3.
KirshnerR. L. and GreenR. M., Acute thrombosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm subsequent to Heimlich maneuver: a case reportJournal of Vascular Surgery, 1985, 2 (4), 594–596.
4.
HeimlichH. J. and PatrickE. A., The Heimlich maneuver. Best technique for saving any choking victim's life [see comments]. Postgraduate Medicine, 1990, 87 (6), 38–48, 53.
5.
BrossM. H. and ClarkJ. L., Near-drowning. American Family Physician, 1995, 51 (6), 1545–1551, 1555.
6.
HeimlichH. J. and PatrickE. A., Using the Heimlich maneuver to save near-drowning victims. Postgraduate Medicine, 1988, 84 (2), 62–67, 71–73.
HaynesD. E., HaynesB. E. and YongY. V., Esophageal rupture complicating Heimlich maneuver. American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 1984, 2 (6), 507–509.
9.
BintzM. and CogbillT. H., Gastric rupture after the Heimlich maneuver. Journal of Trauma, 1996, 40 (1), 159–160.
10.
CowanM., BardoleJ. and DleskA., Perforated stomach following the Heimlich maneuver. American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 1987, 5 (2), 121–122.
11.
DupreM. W., SilvaE. and BrotmanS., Traumatic rupture of the stomach secondary to Heimlich maneuver. American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 1993, 11 (6), 611–612.
12.
Van der HamA. C. and LangeJ. F., Traumatic rupture of the stomach after Heimlich maneuver. Journal of Emergency Medicine, 1990, 8 (6), 713–715.
13.
VisintineR. E. and BaickC. H., Ruptured stomach after Heimlich maneuver. Jama, 1975, 234 (4), 415.
14.
RazaboniR. M., BrathwaiteC. E. and DwyerW. A.Jr., Ruptured jejunum following Heimlich maneuver. Journal of Emergency Medicine, 1986, 4 (2), 95–98.
15.
ValeroV., Mesenteric laceration complicating a Heimlich maneuver [letter]. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 1986, 15 (1), 105–106.
16.
UjjinV., RatanasitS. and NagendranT., Diaphragmatic hernia as a complication of the Heimlich maneuver. International Surgery, 1984, 69 (2), 175–176.
17.
PassikC. S., AckermannD. M., PiehlerJ. M., Traumatic rupture of Ionescu-Shiley aortic valve after the Heimlich maneuver. Archives of Pathology Laboratory Medicine, 1987, 111 (5), 469–470.
18.
ChapmanJ. H., MenapaceF. J. and HowellR. R., Ruptured aortic valve cusp: a complication of the Heimlich maneuver. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 1983, 12 (7), 446–448.
19.
FeldmanT., MallonS. M., BolookiH., Fatal acute aortic regurgitation in a person performing the Heimlich maneuver [letter]. New England Journal of Medicine, 1986, 315 (25), 1613.
20.
CervantesJ., MartinezR. and Perez-GarciaD., Acute thrombosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm. An uncommon entity. Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery (Torino), 1985, 26 (6), 598–601.
21.
WebbK. H. and JacocksM. A., Acute aortic occlusion [see comments]. American Journal of Surgery, 1988, 155 (3), 405–407.
22.
MatoloN. M., CheungL., AlboD.Jr., Acute occlusion of the infrarenal aorta. American Journal of Surgery, 1973, 126 (6), 788–793.
