When should you not perform abdominal thrusts on an adult?

Abdominal thrusts, commonly known as the Heimlich maneuver, are indicated for a victim who is experiencing a complete airway obstruction, where they are unable to breathe, speak, or cough effectively. In the case of a partially obstructed airway, the victim may still be able to cough, breathe, or make sounds. Encouraging a victim with a partial obstruction to continue coughing can help dislodge the obstruction naturally. Performing abdominal thrusts in this scenario may increase the risk of injury and is not necessary since the victim is still able to manage their breathing to some extent.

It is essential to assess the severity of the obstruction effectively. In cases where the airway is only partially obstructed, supportive care, monitoring, and encouragement to cough are often the best approaches, avoiding unnecessary or harmful interventions like the abdominal thrusts.