This document defines and describes asphyxia, which is a condition where the lungs do not receive sufficient oxygen. It can be caused by choking, drowning, toxic gas inhalation, or injuries that prevent breathing. Asphyxia is classified as physical or chemical. Physical asphyxia includes choking, suffocation, strangulation, and drug overdoses. Chemical asphyxia involves gases like carbon monoxide, cyanide, and hydrogen sulfide. Signs of asphyxia occur in two phases, initially increasing breathing rate and later losing consciousness. Treatment involves removing the cause, clearing the airway, giving artificial respiration, and immediate medical help. The Heimlich maneuver and CPR may be used to dislo

1. ASPHYXIA
Mr. Manikandan.T,
RN., RM., M.Sc(N)., D.C.A .,(Ph.D)
Research Scholar,
Dept. of Medical Surgical Nursing,
VMCON, Puducherry.

2. DEFINITION:
• A condition in which the lung do not get sufficient
oxygen supply of air for breathing.
• If this condition continues for some minutes,
breathing and heart action stops and death occurs.
Asphyxia can be induced by choking, drowning,
electric shock, injury or the inhalation of toxic gases.

3. Types
• Physical
• chemical

4. Physical asphyxia
choking
aspiration
suffocation
strangulation
Drug over
dose
Birth
asphyxia

5. • Choking:
when food or an object gets stuck in your airway and blocks air from
getting into lungs.
• Aspiration:
when something you eat or drink goes down the wrong pipe and enters
airway or lungs.
• Suffocation(smothering):
when something heavy covers the face or chest and prevents you from
breathing
• Strangulation:
if a cord or rope or other object long enough to go around the neck
presses on airway.
• Drug overdose:
opioids when it taken high dose it slows down the breathing
• Birth asphyxia:
unborn child may get too little oxygen during pregnancy may be due to
problem with placenta

6. Chemical asphyxia
Carbon
monoxide
cyanide
Hydrogen
sulfide

7. Carbon monoxide :
colorless, odorless gas if you breathe in too much it
replaces the oxygen in blood
Cyanide :
it keep cells from taking oxygen in
Hydrogen sulfide:
gas smell like rotten egg. It can come from sewage, liquid
manure, natural gas. If you breathe in too much it prevents
oxygen from entering your cells

8. CAUSES OF ASPHYXIA:
1. Condition affecting air passage:
• Spasm
• Obstruction
• Compression.
2. Condition affecting the respiratory mechanism:
• Epilepsy, tetanus, rabies, nerve disease causing paralysis of
chest wall or diaphragm

9. CONT….:
3. Condition affecting the respiratory centre:
• Morphine, barbiturates, drowning, choking, suffocation by
smoke, asthma, external heart compression, electric shock,
stroke, strangulation, swelling within the throat, suffocation by
poison gases, artificial respiration.
4. Compression of chest:
5. Lack of oxygen:
• It is in high altitude with low atmospheric pressure.

10. SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:
• PHASE 1:
Rate of breathing exercise or increases,
Breaths get shorter,
Veins of neck become swollen,
Face, lips, nails, fingers and toes turn blue.,
Pulse gets faster and feeble.
• PHASE 2:
Consciousness is lost totally or partially
Forth may appear at the mouth and nostrils.
Fits may occur

11. MANAGEMENT:
• Remove the cause if possible
• Make the airway passage clear
• Check the level of cyanosis
• Give artificial respiration
• Arrange for transportation, send the casualty to the hospital
immediately.
• Heimlich maneuver – grasping the victim from behind with hands
linked in front and compressing the abdomen just below the ribs.
• Encourage the victim to cough up foriegn objects in throat
• Rap victim between shoulder blade to dislodge object.
• For asphyxia caused by gas or fumes remove victim to a clear
atmosphere, use artificial respiration

12. Heimlich maneuver

13. • Drowning – tilt the client to one side with head
down
• Strangulation: remove the band
• Suffocation: remove the victim as soon as
possible to fresh air
• For all the victim loosen the clothing
• If breathing gets restored give sips of water

14. If breathing does not restore then start artificial
respiration
Mouth – moth respiration:
• Tilt the head at back
• Pinch the nostril, cover the mouth of the casuality
• Blow into his lungs until his chest expands
• Repeat it for 15-20 times,
• Blowing of air should be done with an open mouth, covering both
mouth and nose
• Other hand ensure medical help
• If it is not possible to give 2 effective breaths start chest compression
• First aider should give 15 chest compression – 2 inflation
• Cycle should continue until patient recovers or till medical aid is
called for

16. Note
• Observe the following while chest
compression
Bluish discoloration of face
Dilated pupil
Carotid pulse

17. THANKS FOR YOUR KIND LISTENING