Category |
Causes |
Diagnosis |
Management |
Airway Obstruction |
- Foreign body (e.g., choking)
- Swelling (e.g., anaphylaxis, angioedema)
- Trauma to airway (e.g., tracheal injury)
|
- Physical examination (visual inspection of airway)
- Absence of breath sounds
- Stridor or gasping sounds
|
- Remove obstruction (e.g., Heimlich maneuver, suction)
- Secure airway (intubation if necessary)
- Administer epinephrine for anaphylaxis
|
Central Nervous System Depression |
- Drug overdose (e.g., opioids, sedatives)
- Trauma (e.g., brain injury)
- Stroke
|
- Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assessment
- Absence of spontaneous breathing
- History of drug use or head injury
|
- Administer naloxone for opioid overdose
- Supportive care (ventilation)
- Neuroimaging for brain injury or stroke
|
Lung Disease |
- Severe asthma exacerbation
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Pneumonia
|
- Chest X-ray
- Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis
- Auscultation for wheezing or crackles
|
- Administer bronchodilators and steroids (for asthma/COPD)
- Oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation
- Antibiotics for pneumonia
|
Cardiac Causes |
- Cardiac arrest
- Severe arrhythmia
- Myocardial infarction
|
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Pulse check (absence of pulse)
- History of cardiac disease
|
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS)
- Defibrillation for shockable rhythms
|
Metabolic/Endocrine Causes |
- Severe electrolyte imbalance (e.g., hyperkalemia)
- Hypoglycemia
- Thyroid storm
|
- Blood tests (electrolyte panel, blood glucose)
- History of metabolic or endocrine disorder
- Signs of weakness or altered mental state
|
- Correct underlying metabolic abnormality (e.g., IV insulin for hyperkalemia, glucose for hypoglycemia)
- Administer supportive care (oxygen, ventilation)
|
Other Causes |
- Sepsis
- Hypothermia or hyperthermia
- Tension pneumothorax
|
- Blood cultures and lactate for sepsis
- Clinical assessment of body temperature
- Needle decompression for tension pneumothorax
|
- Antibiotics and fluid resuscitation for sepsis
- Temperature regulation (warming or cooling)
- Needle decompression followed by chest tube insertion for pneumothorax
|