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Yearbook of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine 2010 pp 83–95Cite as

The Role of Gasping in Resuscitation

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Part of the book series: Yearbook of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine ((YEARBOOK,volume 2010))

Abstract

Gasping is a physiologic entity that, among other conditions, is seen typically in mammals who have sustained a global ischemic insult such as sudden cardiac arrest or severe hemorrhagic shock [1–13]. Scientists have defined a gasp formally in nomenclature consensus processes as “an abrupt, sudden, transient inspiratory effort” [13] and it has been described in the published literature since 1812 [11]. The classic gasping that occurs after sudden cardiac arrest is also sometimes referred to as “agonal breaths” or “agonal respirations” [1, 3–6, 9]. However, the term agonal breathing may also be used by some when referring to a broader variety of respiratory efforts or conditions [12, 14]. Agonal breathing may, therefore, refer to various kinds of abnormal breathing observed at the time of clinical death, during certain types of stroke, or in progressive respiratory failure when rapid breathing reverts to slower and often shallow breaths [6, 11, 12, 14]. Classic gasps, according to strict definition, however, are usually sudden, abrupt, and much brisker and larger than normal respiratory efforts [13].

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Emergency Medicine Residency, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the Parkland Health and Hospital System, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Mail Code 8579, Dallas, TX, 75390-8579, USA

    L. P. Roppolo

  2. Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the Parkland Health and Hospital System, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Mail Code 8579, Dallas, TX, 75390-8579, USA

    P. E. Pepe

  3. Bureau of Emergency Medical Services & Trauma System, The Arizona Department of Health Services, 150 North 18th Avenue, #540, Phoenix, AZ, 85007, USA

    B. J. Bobrow

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  1. L. P. Roppolo
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  2. P. E. Pepe
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  3. B. J. Bobrow
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Intensive Care Erasme Hospital, Université libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik 808, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium

    Jean-Louis Vincent (Head) (Head)

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Roppolo, L.P., Pepe, P.E., Bobrow, B.J. (2010). The Role of Gasping in Resuscitation. In: Vincent, JL. (eds) Yearbook of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine 2010. Yearbook of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, vol 2010. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-10286-8_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-10286-8_9

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