What are agonal respirations?

Agonal respirations are characterized as an irregular pattern of breathing that often occurs in an unconscious person, typically following cardiac arrest. These breaths are not effective and are usually infrequent. They often manifest as gasping or very shallow breathing efforts and can be mistaken for normal breathing by those not trained in recognizing them. In the context of Basic Life Support, identifying agonal respirations is crucial because they signal that immediate action, such as starting CPR and calling for emergency help, is necessary. The presence of agonal respirations indicates that the individual is in a life-threatening situation that requires prompt attention.