Respiratory arrest

• What is respiratory arrest?

  Cessation of breathing
• What are some intrinsic risk factors for resp arrest?

  Neuromuscular disorders

  Pulmonary conditions

  CNS disorders

  Metabolic alterations
• What are some extrinsic risk factors for resp arrest?

  Trauma

  Anaphylaxis

  Toxic ingestions/inhalation

  Infections
• How does resp arrest occur?

  Event/condition disrupts normal vent = hypoxia and hypercapnia = inc RR -> issue persists -> comp mechanism fails = worse hypoxia and hypercapnia

  Hypercapnia = inc CO2 -> resp acidosis -> dec CNS function -> dec resp stim = dec breathing = resp arrest
• How can resp arrest lead to cardiac arrest?

  Prolonged resp arrest = severe hypoxia -> dec O2 -> cell death and tissue injury in heart and brain = cardiac arrest secondary to resp arrest
• How may a patient with resp arrest present?

  Severe resp distress - agonal breathing or cessation of breaths

  Dec consciousness

  Cyanosis

  Tachycardia (at first then bradycardia)
• What is agonal breathing?

  Infrequent, irregular gasping, laboured breaths
• What are some auscultation findings for resp arrest?

  Dysphonia or aphonia - may suggest upper airway obstruction

  Silent chest - severe airway obstruction/cessation of air into lungs
• How is resp arrest managed?

  Maintain oxygen and ventilation

  Treat underlying cause

  Post-arrest care