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Related Experiment Videos

Preterminal gasping and effects on the cardiac function.

Mioara D Manole1, Robert W Hickey

  • 1Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Critical Care Medicine
|November 23, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Gasping, or agonal respirations, is a vital sign during cardiac arrest. This terminal breathing pattern improves cardiac function and outcomes in mammals, especially during resuscitation efforts.

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Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Cardiology
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Gasping, also known as agonal respirations, is a terminal breathing pattern observed in mammals following anoxia or ischemia.
  • It is a universal phenomenon with significant implications in critical care scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the physiology of gasping.
  • To examine the prevalence and significance of gasping during cardiac arrest.
  • To elucidate the effects of gasping on cardiac function.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive review of relevant human and animal literature was conducted.
  • The literature focused on gasping and its impact on cardiac function.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Gasping originates in the medullary central nervous system and is prevalent during cardiac arrest.
  • Animal studies show gasping decreases intrathoracic pressure during inspiration, promoting venous return, and increases it during expiration, favoring coronary perfusion.
  • Gasping enhances cardiac output and contractility in immature anoxic animals.

    • Conclusions:

    • Gasping acts as an auto-resuscitative mechanism in immature mammals and improves cardiopulmonary resuscitation outcomes in mature mammals.
    • It leads to significant cardiorespiratory changes, including improved gas exchange, increased venous return, cardiac output, contractility, aortic pressure, and coronary perfusion pressure.