The release of drugs in the form of tablets greatly simplifies the treatment process - you can take the remedy prescribed by the doctor yourself, without prior preparation. In many cases, pills can be an alternative to injections, which are unpleasant for patients of all age groups - and in order to use this dosage form, you just need to have a glass of water on hand. However, even taking pills requires care and adherence to safety rules - if careless, the medicine easily becomes a foreign body and can cause painful sensations in the esophagus or respiratory failure. What if the pill is stuck in the throat? How can you help a patient?
Causes
How to behave if the pill "got" in the throat and does not pass into the stomach? What to do if it is impossible to cough it up, but there is pain? To help a patient, you need to understand where the pill is stuck:
- in the throat;
- in the esophagus.
If the patient swallows a large tablet, tries to push it down the throat without drinking liquid, or drinks too little water, he may feel that a foreign body has blocked the lumen of the digestive tract. Usually, when interviewing, patients easily indicate the place of the alleged stuck in the projection of the neck; they experience pain and difficulty swallowing.
Sometimes there is a deceptive sensation of having a pill in the throat, while it has already advanced into the stomach.
It should be understood that the sensation of a pill getting stuck in the throat can be subjective. If the foreign body was large, it could damage the mucous membrane of the pharynx and esophagus. This is especially true when the lumen of the organs is narrowed for some reason, it is considered as a trace phenomenon. In this case, even after the tablet dissolves or slips into the stomach on its own, patients feel discomfort, distention and sore throat, it is difficult for them to swallow even their own saliva.
Separately, it is worth considering the situation in which the pill gets stuck in the larynx - this can happen if the patient choked, took the medicine on the run, got scared while swallowing. The presence of a foreign body is dangerous by the development of respiratory disorders (coughing attacks, shortness of breath), which rapidly increase and can lead to asphyxia (suffocation) with complete overlap of the larynx lumen, significant edema, spasm.
Independent activities
The nature of the first aid measures is determined by the presence or absence of respiratory problems in the patient, as well as whether the foreign body is really still in the throat. All stuck pills are dangerous, but if, when entering the digestive tract, the patient has time to try to help himself, then a foreign body in the larynx requires emergency assistance.
Foreign body of the pharynx and esophagus
What to do if the pill is stuck? Applicable:
- drinking liquids (water, tea, etc.);
- drinking dairy products (yogurt, kefir).
The liquid can help push the pill down into the stomach. Do not use carbonated water or alcohol. The bubbles irritate the mucous membrane and can worsen pain, and alcoholic beverages are usually incompatible with drug therapy. The tablet will dissolve already in the stomach, but the patient runs the risk of intoxication.
If it is possible to swallow not only liquid, but also food, it is permissible to chew a piece of bread, boiled potatoes - it should not be very large. Do not swallow large pieces of food quickly, especially if they are dry and crumbly.
The presence of a foreign body often provokes coughing, sometimes the patient experiences pain. If the tablet is not deep, you can try to cough it up - gently, without unnecessary effort, slightly bending over. If successful, it will quickly fall out of the mouth.
Foreign body of the larynx
If the tablet ends up in the larynx, complete and incomplete airway obstruction may develop. When a person can breathe, you need:
- Gradually gaining air, take a deep breath, while straightening (unbending the torso).
- Make a sharp, intense exhalation while bending forward.
- Try to clear your throat.
Patting on the back is only effective after the person bends down. If he stands straight, any mechanical impact, especially strong, will only push the tablet deeper, but will not help to remove it. In addition, patting is not always helpful and is not recommended as a first aid measure.
When a pill gets stuck, a special technique for releasing the airways - the Heimlich maneuver - can help.
If the respiratory tract is completely blocked (the victim cannot speak, clutches his throat in panic, cannot breathe in), a Heimlich maneuver (trick) is required. For this, the following rules are observed:
- the person providing assistance is located behind the victim's back, sits down slightly;
- the victim leans slightly forward;
- the rescuer wraps his arms around him, placing a clenched fist on the area between the navel and the costal arches;
- covers the fist with the palm of the other hand;
- presses with his fist up and towards himself;
- the hands of the rescuer are sharply bent at the elbows.
The Heimlich maneuver can be performed independently. There are two options:
- The hand, clenched into a fist, is placed between the navel and the costal arches, in the epigastrium. At the same time, the thumb rests on the stomach, and the fist makes quick and sharp pressure (pushes) upward.
- The victim leans on a solid high object (chair, table), which stands firmly on the floor. A push is performed in the abdomen upward, repeated several times.
Even if the foreign body has been successfully removed, a doctor should be consulted. This is especially important if the pill enters the larynx, as there is a risk of edema and re-growth of respiratory distress.
Specialist help
Specialist help is required if attempts to remove the pill on their own are unsuccessful or the patient's condition progressively worsens (respiratory failure is increasing). In a medical institution, a foreign body can be removed, depending on the level of its localization:
- with tweezers for pharyngoscopy;
- an esophagoscope for esophagoscopy;
- in the process of laryngoscopy (direct, indirect).
Pharyngoscopy is an examination of the pharynx, laryngoscopy is an examination of the larynx, and esophagoscopy is an examination of the esophagus. To visualize hard-to-reach anatomical areas and prevent additional trauma, special instruments (for example, flexible endoscopes) are used. This may require anesthesia.
If airway obstruction occurs, and it is impossible to quickly restore patency, a decision is made to perform an operation (conicotomy, tracheotomy).
In the event that a foreign body has slipped into the stomach, but the patient feels discomfort and pain, you should consult a doctor to assess the severity of the injury. Drug therapy may be required. However, most often, since the tablet has smooth edges and is able to partially dissolve in the lumen of the digestive tract, expectant tactics, restriction of irritating food, quitting alcohol and smoking are enough.
