Agonal respiration

Agonal Respiration

Agonal respiration (pronounced: /ˈæɡənəl ˌrɛspəˈreɪʃən/), also known as agonal breathing or agonal gasps, is an abnormal pattern of breathing characterized by gasping, labored breathing, accompanied by strange vocalizations and myoclonus.

Etymology

The term "agonal" is derived from the Greek word "agonia", which means struggle. In this context, it refers to the struggle to breathe that is often observed in severely ill patients.

Definition

Agonal respiration is a medical term to describe a form of struggling breathing that is characterized by gasping, labored breaths, with strange vocalizations and myoclonus. This type of breathing is commonly seen in patients who are suffering from severe illnesses or in the final stages of life.

Symptoms

Symptoms of agonal respiration include:

• Gasping for air
• Labored breathing
• Strange vocalizations
• Myoclonus (sudden, involuntary jerking of a muscle or group of muscles)

Causes

Agonal respiration is usually caused by conditions that severely compromise the function of the heart or lungs, such as:

• Cardiac arrest
• Stroke
• Severe pneumonia
• Drug overdose

Treatment

Treatment for agonal respiration is focused on addressing the underlying cause and may include:

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Defibrillation
• Administration of oxygen
• Medications to treat the underlying condition

Related Terms

• Cheyne-Stokes respiration
• Kussmaul breathing
• Biot's respiration

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Agonal respiration
• Wikipedia's article - Agonal respiration

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