If breathing stops - give immediately?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2021

Explanation

When breathing ceases (apnea), the body is deprived of oxygen, leading to rapid brain and organ damage.
Artificial respiration (rescue breathing) is the immediate, life-saving intervention to manually supply oxygen to the lungs.
This action follows the fundamental principle of Basic Life Support (BLS), which prioritizes Airway and Breathing (the 'A' and 'B' in ABCs) to prevent irreversible hypoxic injury.
Effective rescue breaths, causing visible chest rise, are crucial until spontaneous breathing returns or advanced medical help arrives.

Option B: I.V. fluids address circulation ('C' in ABCs), not the primary, more immediate problem of absent breathing ('B'). Oxygenation is the first priority.
Option C: Dexamethasone is a slow-acting anti-inflammatory steroid and has no role in restarting breathing during an acute respiratory arrest.
Option D: This option is illogical and dangerous. A person who has stopped breathing is unconscious and in a critical medical emergency requiring immediate intervention, not advice.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Immediate management of respiratory arrest (apnea) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
In any clinical setting, a nurse's first response to an unresponsive patient is to check for breathing. Recognizing apnea and starting artificial respiration immediately is a core competency.
The sequence of 'Airway, Breathing, Circulation' (ABC) is the cornerstone of all resuscitation efforts. Any delay in establishing breathing can lead to poor neurological outcomes.
What if? The patient is found to have a pulse but is not breathing. The correct action is to continue with rescue breaths (1 breath every 5-6 seconds for an adult) and not start chest compressions, as the heart is still beating.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the critical event in the question stem: 'breathing stops'. This signifies a life-threatening emergency (respiratory arrest).
Next, recall the basic principles of emergency life support, specifically the ABCs: Airway, Breathing, Circulation.
Evaluate each option based on its role in addressing the immediate problem. The problem is a lack of breathing.
Select the option that directly addresses the 'Breathing' component. Artificial respiration is the only choice that provides ventilation.
Eliminate other options by recognizing they address different problems (circulation, inflammation) or are nonsensical in an emergency context.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 603-605

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