What are agonal breaths indicative of in an unconscious patient?

Agonal breaths are abnormal and irregular gasps that can occur in an unconscious patient and are typically associated with severe hypoxia or anoxia, meaning that the brain is not receiving enough oxygen. These types of breaths are typically not effective for ventilation and may occur in the context of a patient in cardiac arrest or experiencing a critical medical emergency.

This indicates that the patient's respiratory drive is significantly impaired, often seen when the brain is not receiving adequate blood flow due to a heart that is not effectively pumping. In the setting of cardiac arrest, the patient is unable to sustain normal breathing, and any respiratory effort may be weak or disorganized; therefore, agonal breaths serve as a signal that immediate resuscitation efforts are necessary to restore normal circulation and oxygenation.

Contextually, normal respiratory function would present with regular, effective breaths, while severe asthma would be characterized by wheezing and difficulty breathing rather than agonal breathing patterns. Additionally, success in resuscitation efforts would typically manifest as the return of effective respiratory and circulatory function, which would negate the presence of agonal breathing.