What condition indicates that a patient is experiencing respiratory arrest?

A patient experiencing respiratory arrest typically has a pulse but is not breathing normally. This means that the body's circulatory system is still functional, but the respiratory system has failed. In such cases, the person may not be able to ventilate effectively, leading to insufficient oxygen reaching vital organs and carbon dioxide buildup in the bloodstream.

The presence of a pulse indicates that the heart is still beating, which is a crucial aspect of the situation; the body may still be circulating blood, but without adequate breathing, the oxygen supply becomes critically low. Proper intervention, such as rescue breaths or CPR, is necessary to support the patient’s breathing and restore normal oxygenation.

In contrast, being conscious but unable to breathe suggests some level of responsiveness, where the patient may still have the ability to take actions, albeit compromised. An unresponsive and pulseless patient would indicate cardiac arrest rather than solely respiratory issues. Cyanosis and coughing indicate other respiratory problems but do not confirm respiratory arrest on their own.