Agonal Breathing

What’s this?

Respirations characterized by gulping or gasping motions that are commonly seen in patients in cardiac arrest

• Stems from the lower brainstem; reflex
• Can appear that the patient is gasping and gulping, and can sound like the patient is choking

Occur in around 40% of early cardiac arrest

NOT NORMAL BREATHING! The body is struggling to exchange air with these breaths. If left untreated, the patient will die. ==BEGIN CPR!==