Anti-Choking Suction Devices for Foreign Body Airway Obstruction in Children. Would Parents and Kindergarten Teachers be Able to Use Them Without Training?

There is limited scientific evidence on the brand-new suction anti-choking devices as alternative or complementary tools for the treatment of foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO). However, they are already available in some public places. With the hypothesis that laypersons would not use them properly we have carried out the present simulation study.A randomized crossover trial study in a simulated FBAO scenario was conducted. Forty-two parents and eight kindergarten staff without knowledge about anti-choking devices voluntarily participated. Participants had to solve a simulated FBAO situation in three randomized scenarios: 1) Following the current choking international guidelines, 2) Using the LifeVac® device, and 3) Using DeCHOKER® device, according to the instructions provided by manufacturers. Data from 51 participants (54.9% female) were analyzed. Higher success rate was achieved with the LifeVac® and DeCHOKER® devices in comparison with the standard FBAO protocol (median [IQR]: 100.0% [83.0-100.0], 100.0% [75.0-100.0], and 50% [38.0-75.0] respectively; p=0.004). No significant differences were observed between both anti-choking devices (p=0.796). The procedure time was significantly shorter with the LifeVac® device (p<0.001).Conclusion: Untrained laypeople, under simulated conditions, are able to properly handle LifeVac® and DeCHOKER® anti-choking devices according to the manufacturer’s instructions in less than one minute. However, they have difficulties to perform the current recommended choking protocol. Further studies are needed to confirm whether the new devices could have a role in the FBAO management.