Respiratory arrest facts for kids

Respiratory arrest is a very serious medical problem. It happens when a person stops breathing completely, or their breathing is so weak it can't keep their body working. If someone stops breathing for a long time, it's called prolonged apnea.

When breathing stops, the body doesn't get enough oxygen. This can quickly harm important organs, especially the brain. If the brain doesn't get oxygen, a person can lose consciousness. Brain damage can happen in just three minutes without oxygen. After five minutes, it's very likely to be fatal.

Respiratory arrest is a life-threatening medical emergency. It needs immediate help from doctors. The main goal is to get the person breathing properly again. This can involve giving oxygen, clearing the airway, and using artificial ventilation (like a breathing machine). Sometimes, doctors can see signs that someone is about to stop breathing, like struggling to breathe.

It's important to know that respiratory arrest is different from respiratory failure. Respiratory arrest means breathing has completely stopped. Respiratory failure means a person is breathing, but not enough to meet their body's needs. Both can lead to low oxygen in the blood (hypoxemia) and too much carbon dioxide (hypercapnia). Both can be very dangerous. Respiratory arrest is also different from cardiac arrest, which is when the heart muscle stops pumping blood. However, if one isn't treated, it can lead to the other.

Signs of Respiratory Arrest

One common sign of respiratory arrest is cyanosis. This is when the skin, especially around the lips or fingertips, turns a bluish color. It happens because there isn't enough oxygen in the blood. If respiratory arrest isn't treated, the heart will stop working within minutes. At this point, the person will be unconscious or about to pass out.

Signs of breathing problems can be different for each person. These problems can be very serious and even life-threatening. But often, they can be prevented with the right care. Watching patients closely and using the right treatments can help doctors spot problems early. This allows them to step in and help before things get worse.

What Causes Breathing to Stop?

There are several reasons why someone might experience respiratory arrest.

Blocked Airway

An airway blockage means something is stopping air from getting into or out of the lungs. This can happen in the upper or lower parts of the airway.

Upper Airway Blockage

• In babies under 3 months old, a blocked nose can easily cause problems. This is because they mostly breathe through their nose.
• For older children and adults, a foreign object (like food) can get stuck.
• Swelling in the throat or voice box can also block the airway.
• If someone is unconscious, their tongue can relax and fall back, blocking the airway.
• Other causes include growths in the throat area, or fluids like blood or vomit.
• Injuries to the upper airway can also cause blockages.

Lower Airway Blockage

• This can happen when the small airways in the lungs tighten up, like in a severe asthma attack.
• Drowning is another cause, as water fills the lungs.
• Lung infections like pneumonia or fluid buildup in the lungs can also block air sacs.
• Conditions like severe COPD can also lead to breathing arrest. In these cases, the airways become inflamed and narrow. This makes it very hard to breathe and reduces oxygen getting to the body. The body tries to breathe faster, but this can tire out the breathing muscles. Without quick help, this can lead to respiratory arrest.

Weak Breathing Effort

Sometimes, the brain doesn't send strong enough signals to breathe.

• The part of the brain that controls breathing is in the brainstem. It usually responds to how much carbon dioxide is in the blood.
• Brain problems like a stroke or tumors can make breathing weaker.
• Certain medicines can also slow down breathing. They make the brain less sensitive to the need to breathe.
• Other health issues, like very low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) or very low blood pressure (hypotension), can also affect the brain. This then weakens the breathing system.

Weak Breathing Muscles

The muscles used for breathing can become too weak to work properly.

• Problems with the nerves or spinal cord injury can weaken breathing muscles.
• Certain diseases that affect muscles and nerves can also cause this.
• Breathing muscles can also get tired if a person has to breathe very hard for a long time. This can lead to them becoming too weak to continue.

Cardiac Arrest

If the heart stops pumping blood (cardiac arrest), the person will also stop breathing within minutes. This is because the body, including the brain, stops getting oxygen.

How Doctors Diagnose Respiratory Arrest

Doctors use a careful process to figure out if someone is in respiratory arrest and what caused it.

First Check

First, a doctor or trained helper will make sure the area is safe. Then, they will try to talk to the person. If the person can talk, it means their airway is at least partly open and they are breathing. If the person doesn't respond, the helper will look for their chest rising and falling. This shows if they are breathing. They might also gently rub the person's chest to see if they respond.

It's also important to check for a pulse. This helps make sure it's only respiratory arrest and not also cardiac arrest. For people who aren't medically trained, checking a pulse isn't always recommended first. Once it's clear someone has stopped breathing, the next steps help find out why.

Clearing the Airway

The first step to finding the cause is to clear and open the upper airway. This is done by carefully positioning the person's head and neck. The helper will gently lift the chin and tilt the head back. This helps open the airway. If there's a chance of a neck or spinal injury, the helper will be extra careful not to move the neck too much.

If a foreign object is seen, the helper might try to remove it. They might use their finger or a special tool. It's very important not to push the object deeper. Sometimes, a Heimlich maneuver is used. This involves quick pushes on the upper abdomen to dislodge the object. For conscious adults, the helper stands behind them and gives quick, upward thrusts.

Treatment for Respiratory Arrest

The treatment for respiratory arrest depends on what caused it. In many cases, doctors need to create a clear airway and provide artificial ventilation. This means using machines or other methods to help the person breathe.

See also

• Crash cart
• Respiratory failure