Which technique is specifically recommended to relieve suspected airway obstruction by moving the jaw forward?

• A. Jaw thrust
• B. Head tilt, chin lift
• C. Cricoid pressure
• D. Neck hyperextension

Answer: (A)

Relieving airway obstruction by moving the jaw forward acts by pulling the mandible ahead to lift the tongue away from the back of the throat, which directly opens the airway. This is exactly what the jaw thrust maneuver does: you apply gentle forward pressure on the lower jaw to move it upward and forward, creating space for air to flow and preventing the tongue from blocking the airway. This technique is particularly useful when cervical spine injury is a concern because it stabilizes the neck while opening the airway.

The head tilt, chin lift maneuver tilts the head back and lifts the chin to open the airway, but it doesn’t specifically advance the jaw and can be less appropriate if a neck injury is suspected. Cricoid pressure is about compressing the esophagus to reduce aspiration during procedures like intubation, not about relieving airway obstruction by moving the jaw. Neck hyperextension would misalign the airway and worsen obstruction, not help relieve it.