The Jaw-Thrust Maneuver

In unconscious patients, including those under general anesthesia, the posterior displacement of the tongue against the pharyngeal wall, soft palate, and epiglottis tends to obstruct the upper airway. The resulting hypoventilation may lead to hypercarbia and hypoxemia, potentially leading to arrhythmia or cardiac arrest. The jaw-thrust maneuver, which is taught as part of basic life support and anesthesiology, improves the patency of the upper airway. It consists of grasping and lifting the angles of the lower jaw with both hands, one on each side, while displacing the mandible forward, and is typically performed by a clinician facing the patient's head . . .

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