Which statement best defines agonal breathing?

• A. Normal breathing.
• B. Quick, regular breaths.
• C. Breathing that is weak but present.
• D. An ineffective, deteriorating breathing pattern that lingers after the heart has essentially stopped pumping blood to the brain.

Answer: (D)

Agonal breathing is an ineffective, deteriorating breathing pattern that lingers after the heart has essentially stopped pumping blood to the brain. It is not normal breathing and it is not quick, regular breaths. Often it appears as gasping or irregular, shallow breaths that do not provide adequate oxygen to the lungs or brain. Because it can look like the person is still breathing, bystanders may misinterpret it as life signs, but it does not sustain circulation or oxygen delivery. In a suspected cardiac arrest, treat agonal breathing as absent effective respiration—check for a pulse and begin CPR immediately if there is no definite pulse or if breathing is only gasping. Recognizing this pattern helps you act quickly to preserve the person’s chances.