Which statement defines agonal breathing?

• A. An 8-second interval between breaths.
• B. Normal, steady breathing.
• C. Rapid, regular breathing.
• 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 abnormal, often gasping, irregular breathing pattern that occurs when the brain isn’t receiving enough oxygen because the heart has stopped effectively pumping blood. These breaths are typically weak and irregular and do not provide meaningful ventilation. They signal that circulation is severely compromised, so the breathing is not adequate despite appearances. In practice, this means you should treat it as no effective breathing and proceed with high-quality CPR, giving rescue breaths if you’re trained. The other descriptions—normal, steady breathing; rapid, regular breathing; or a fixed interval between breaths—do not reflect the ineffective, deteriorating nature of agonal gasps.