After defibrillating a man in cardiac arrest, you resume CPR. As you are about to reanalyze his cardiac rhythm 2 minutes later, your partner tells you she can definitely feel a strong carotid pulse. You should:

When a strong carotid pulse is palpated during CPR after defibrillation, it indicates that there may be a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). In this situation, assessing the patient's breathing effort is vital because it helps determine the next steps in management. If the patient is breathing adequately, the focus can shift from CPR to ensuring the airway is open and providing supplemental oxygen as necessary.

Verifying the breathing effort also helps assess overall circulatory and respiratory status, which is critical for further treatment decisions. If the patient is not breathing adequately or is apneic, it will be necessary to provide rescue breaths alongside continuous monitoring of the pulse and other vital signs.

While rhythm analysis is essential, it should come after confirming that circulation and breathing are stable. Obtaining a blood pressure reading can be informative, but it is not the immediate priority compared to ensuring effective ventilation. Removing the AED pads is premature until the complete assessment has been made and the patient's status is confirmed. Thus, assessing the breathing effort is the most logical and immediate step in this scenario.