BREATHING PATTERNS

Question 1

Cheyne-Stokes respirations

Answer 1

Waxing & Waning
Depth with Apnea;

BCS

B - Brain Injury.
C - CHF
S -Stroke

Question 2

Biot Respirations

Answer 2

Irregular Breaths with Sudden Apnea

↑ICP
Meningitis
Brainstem Injury.

aka: CLUSTER Respirations
- IRRegular Breathing Patterns
Characterized By:
- Groups of QUICK, SHALLOW Breaths
Followed By PERIODs of APNEA.

MOST COMMONLY Associated with
- INCREASED ICP
Particularly with
- DAMAGE to the MEDULLA OBLONGATA
Due To
- BRAINSTEM COMPRESSION or
- BRAINSTEM HERNIATION.

Question 3

Ataxic Respirations

Answer 3

Completely Irregular,
Pre-Terminal Breathing;

Caused By
- Medullary Failure.

Often Used INTERCHANGEABLY with,
But Typically
- MORE CHAOTIC than, BIOT’s

Classically Linked to
- MEDULLARY DAMAGE and/or
- MARKEDLY INCREASED ICP.

They feature a
- HIGHLY IRRegular Rate & Depth with
- Unpredictable APNEA
(A PreTerminal Pattern)

Question 4

Kussmaul Respirations

Answer 4

Deep, Rapid Breathing to
- BLOW OFF ACID

DKA/Metabolic Acidosis.

Question 5

Agonal Respirations

Answer 5

Gasping, INEFFECTIVE Breaths;

• Cardiac ARREST
• SEVERE Hypoxia.