What should be done if a patient is experiencing inadequate air exchange due to a foreign body airway obstruction?

When a patient is experiencing inadequate air exchange due to a foreign body airway obstruction, the appropriate response is to apply abdominal thrusts on a conscious patient. This technique, often referred to as the Heimlich maneuver, is specifically designed to help dislodge the obstructing object from the airway. By delivering quick, forceful thrusts just above the navel, it increases intrathoracic pressure and creates a sudden airflow that can expel the foreign body.

This method is favored in conscious individuals because it allows the patient to remain responsive while also facilitating their effort to clear the obstruction if they are still able to cough or breathe in the presence of some air exchange.

Other interventions like encouraging the patient to cough can be effective if the patient is only mildly obstructed and able to do so, but significant obstruction typically requires more direct action to prevent loss of consciousness or worse outcomes. Administering supplemental oxygen is relevant for other respiratory issues but would not address the immediate need to clear an obstructed airway. A cricothyroidotomy is an advanced invasive procedure typically reserved for scenarios where other airway management techniques have failed, particularly in cases where the airway is completely obstructed and unmanageable through less invasive means.