17 Questions
What is the characteristic of Cheyne-Stokes breathing that distinguishes it from normal breathing?
Shallow breaths at the beginning of each cycle
Which of the following conditions is NOT associated with Cheyne-Stokes breathing?
Pneumonia
What is the effect of congestive heart failure (CHF) on the brain that contributes to Cheyne-Stokes breathing?
Reduced blood flow to the brain
What is the key difference between Cheyne-Stokes breathing and Biot's breathing?
Depth of inspired volumes
Which of the following is a normal finding in certain individuals?
Cheyne-Stokes breathing in sleeping infants
What is the term for defective muscular coordination?
Ataxia
What is the prognosis of patients with Biot's breathing?
Poor
What is the cause of Biot's breathing in patients with increased intracranial pressure?
Damage to the medulla
What is the primary characteristic of hyperpnea compared to normal breathing patterns?
Faster and deeper
What is the term for hyperpnea caused by diabetic ketoacidosis?
Kussmaul's breathing
What is the primary cause of agonal breathing?
Cerebral ischemia from extreme hypoxia or anoxia
What is the characteristic of agonal breathing that differs from Biot's breathing?
Slower rate with longer periods of apnea
What is the function of the apneustic center in the pons?
To control the depth of inspiration
What is the consequence of damage to the apneustic center in the pons?
Apneustic breathing
What is the characteristic of apneustic breathing?
Deep inspiratory gasps held for some seconds before expiration
What is the prognosis of agonal breathing?
Usually a sign of impending death
What is the term for the physical signs seen during the process of death?
Agonal signs
Study Notes
Additional Breathing Patterns
- Hyperpnea is a breathing pattern that is faster and deeper than normal, often seen after exercise when O2 consumption and CO2 production increase.
- Abnormal hyperpnea can be caused by pathologies, especially sepsis, and is known as Kussmaul's breathing when caused by diabetic ketoacidosis.
Agonal Breathing
- Agonal breathing is a pattern of very slow (3-4 per minute) and very shallow inspirations followed by long irregular periods of apnea.
- Agonal breathing is often seen in patients nearing death and is usually caused by cerebral ischemia due to extreme hypoxia or anoxia.
Apneustic Breathing
- Apneustic breathing is characterized by deep inspiratory gasps held for some seconds before expiration.
- Apneusis is caused by damage to the apneustic center in the pons of the medulla, which acts as a "cut off switch" to control the depth of inspiration.
Cheyne-Stokes Breathing
- Cheyne-Stokes breathing is a pattern of regular cycles of breaths that begin shallowly, increase in depth, and reach a peak before diminishing.
- Each cycle is followed by a period of apnea.
- Cheyne-Stokes breathing is seen in patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, and congestive heart failure (CHF).
- CHF reduces blood flow to the brain, causing a lag between arterial PaCO2 changes and the medullary response.
Biot's Respiration
- Biot's respiration, also called cluster breathing or ataxic breathing, is characterized by groups of quick shallow inspirations followed by long, irregular periods of apnea.
- Biot's breathing differs from Cheyne-Stokes in that the inspired volumes have depths that are fairly consistent.
- Biot's breathing is often seen in patients with increased intracranial pressure due to damage to the medulla or pressure on the medulla from herniation.
Learn about the characteristics of Cheyne-Stokes breathing, also known as periodic breathing, and its association with various medical conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, and congestive heart failure. Understand the underlying physiological mechanisms that lead to this breathing pattern. Test your knowledge on this important topic in respiratory medicine.
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