Respiratory arrest

Respiratory arrest is the cessation of breathing. It is a medical emergency and it usually is related to or coincides with a cardiac arrest. Causes include opiate overdose, head injury, anaesthesia or drowning. Respiratory arrest is treated initially with artificial ventilation, together with treatment of the likely cause.

Treatment

To avoid hypoxic brain damage, breathing must be administered artificially, either by mouth-to-mouth techniques, or mechanical ventilation, whilst underlying causes are detected and treated.

See also

• Cardiac arrest
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Artificial respiration

External links

• http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec06/ch064/ch064b.html

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