Pediatria e Terapêutica
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Resuscitation of Choking Victims in a Pediatric Population Using a Novel Portable Non-Powered Suction Device: Real-World Data

Laura Levinson Gal*, Pamela Pugliesi, Diane Peterman

Background: Foreign body aspiration remains a significant cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the use of a novel, portable, nonpowered suction device (The LifeVac; LifeVac LLC, New York, USA) in pediatric patients who experience a choking emergency, and for whom standard resuscitative protocols have failed.

 Methods: This article provides a summary of self-reported instances of use in pediatric patients during real-world choking emergencies that occurred from January 2014 to July 2020.

 Results: Over a 6-year period, a total of 21 pediatric patients recovered from a choking incident after using the device to remove the airway obstruction when standard resuscitative protocols failed. No long-term complications were reported.

Conclusion: These cases describe the successful use of the device in pediatric patients who experienced a choking emergency. This study is limited by a reliance on user-reported data; although no device failures have been reported to date, we cannot definitively declare that they have not occurred. Based on these findings, and the data collected from adult subjects, use of this device during choking emergencies should be studied further.