Breathing absent temporarily
Alternative names:
respiration slowed or stopped; respiratory arrest; apnea
Home care:
If a person has stopped breathing, emergency measures should
be taken, and call for emergency help! Also see the information
on CPR under the Injuries
heading.
Call your health care provider if:
- there is any interruption in spontaneous breathing. This
is an emergency! Call 911 and begin CPR
if breathing has stopped.
What to expect at your health care provider's office:
In an emergency room or by an ambulance EMT (emergency medical
technician), CPR or other
emergency measures will be provided.
Once the patient is in a stable state, the medical history
will be obtained and a physical
examination performed.
Medical history questions documenting absent breathing in
detail may include:
- time pattern
- Has this ever happened before?
- How long did the event last?
- Has the person had repeated, brief episodes of apnea?
- Did the episode end with a sudden deep snorting breath?
- recent health history
- Has there been any recent history of an accident
or injury?
- Has the person been ill recently?
- other
- Does the person use street drugs?
- What medication does the person take?
- Has there been any breathing
difficulty?
- What other symptoms are also present?
A general physical examination will be performed, including
listening for the heart sounds
and breath sounds. The
heart and lungs will be monitored. Diagnostic tests will be
determined by the results of history and physical examination
data.
Diagnostic tests that may be performed are:
After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to apnea to your personal
medical record.
Update Date: 02/09/00
Updated by: J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director,
Utah Health Informatics and adam.com
editorial
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