What is the primary focus in treating a patient with agonal gasps?

In treating a patient with agonal gasps, the primary focus is on conducting artificial ventilations and chest compressions. Agonal gasps are defined as irregular, ineffective gasping breaths that often occur in patients experiencing severe respiratory compromise, such as cardiac arrest. These gasps are not sufficient to maintain adequate oxygenation and ventilation.

When encountering a patient with agonal gasps, immediate action is required to ensure proper oxygen delivery to vital organs. Artificial ventilations help provide necessary breaths when the patient's own respiratory effort is inadequate, while chest compressions are vital for maintaining blood circulation during cardiac arrest. Together, they form the critical components of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which aims to restore effective breathing and circulation.

Other interventions, such as providing oxygen through a mask or administering bronchodilators, do not address the need for immediate life-saving measures in a situation where the patient is not effectively breathing. Encouraging the patient to breathe deeply is also inappropriate, as the patient's condition typically precludes sufficient respiratory effort on their own.