As Sidebar readers know, in 1976 my friend, retired anesthesiologist Chuck Guildner MD of Everett, WA, published a research study that concluded chest thrusts are more effective for responding to a choking emergency than my dad's namesake below-the-ribcage abdominal thrust maneuver.
Since then, there's been a lively debate in the medical community over which is the most effective and safest treatment.
For example, last August fellow blogger Anthony Pearson MD of St. Louis (aka The Skeptical Cardiologist) published the provocatively-titled A Call To Reconsider The Heimlich Experiment: Let’s Scientifically Determine The Best Approach To Choking Victims.
Along those lines, an emergency medicine specialist once asked me, "How many successful choking rescues using chest thrusts have been incorrectly attributed to the Heimlich maneuver?"
Based on the above animated fun video posted on February 3, 2019, one such case may have been the brother of multi-talented actor/comedian/producer/rapper/songwriter Will Smith.
Here's Will's narration:
Today is Henry Heimlich's birthday. I actually saved my brother's life once with a Heimlich maneuver.
McDonald's had come out with that McRib sandwich and he went and got the McDonald's McRib. And we were pulled over in Philly and all of a sudden my brother just punches me in my back and I'm, like, "Ow man, shit!"
And I turn around and he's in the car and he's going (makes extreme gestures indicating choking) and he's doin' that.
So I reached down inside of the car and got right below the sternum...
[Ghostly apparition of my dad] "Use the Heimlich, Will!"
And it was barrelin' [?] the up move and the down and the McRib sandwich shot out of his nose onto the windshield, it was a full splash out of his nose.
Imitating his brother: "You saved my life, you saved my life!"I have zero expertise in physiology, but I'm not sure how the McRib went from his brother's esophagus through his nose!
So happy birthday, Henry Heimlich, you actually saved my brother's life.
That aside, since Will was outside the car and reached in through the window, it's difficult to imagine his arms were long enough to get below his brother's rib cage.
And Will says he squeezed "right below the sternum." That sounds like a chest thrust.
Therefore, Will's birthday tribute to my pa appears to have been misplaced.
Shouldn't he be thanking Dr. Guildner?
Yo Will, if you and/or your brother want to check in with Chuck to express your gratitude for getting the better of that McRib, he's alive and well and regularly navigating the waterways near his home in Everett, Washington near Seattle.
Feel free to e-mail me for Dr. Guildner's contact info.
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| Charles W. Guildner MD |