Respiratory arrest is the cessation or absence of breathing. For purposes of ACLS, inadequate breathing such as agonal respirations should also be considered respiratory arrest
Give 100% supplemental oxygen to people in respiratory arrest
Blood oxygen goal in respiratory arrest is 100%
Goal for non-arrest patients is≥94%
A person with absent or ineffective breathing and a pulse should be treated with rescue breathing, not chest compressions. If the person in respiratory arrest loses their pulse during resuscitation, he or she should be treated as cardiac arrest.
In adults, respiratory arrest is usually caused by drowning or head injury. In children, respiratory arrest is usually a progression from respiratory distress and respiratory failure. Steps should be taken to intervene during respiratory distress to prevent escalation to respiratory failure and ultimately respiratory arrest.
Respiratory distress is a clinical condition in which the respiratory rate is abnormal and there is increased work of breathing.
Signs of respiratory distress include:
Rapid breathing rate
Increased work of breathing
Abnormal breath sounds, and airway sounds
Elevated heart rate
Respiratory failure is a state of too little oxygen in the blood, inadequate ventilation, or both. Respiratory failure usually follows uncorrected respiratory distress.
