Which respiration pattern is Cheyne-Stokes respiration?

Which respiration pattern is Cheyne-Stokes respiration?

• A. Kussmaul respirations
• B. Cheyne-Stokes Respirations
• C. Apneustic breathing
• D. Central neurogenic hyperventilation

Answer: (B)

Cheyne-Stokes respiration is a cyclical breathing pattern in which breaths wax and wane in depth and rate, followed by a short pause in breathing (apnea) before the next cycle begins. You’ll see several breaths that gradually increase in volume and then decrease, ending with a brief period of no breathing. This pattern reflects unstable control of breathing often due to central nervous system disease or severe heart failure, where the brain’s detection of carbon dioxide is delayed or blunted. This differs from other patterns: Kussmaul breathing is continuous, deep, and rapid breathing without apnea, typically from metabolic acidosis. Apneustic breathing features an abnormal pause at full inspiration, rather than a repeating crescendo-decrescendo cycle. Central neurogenic hyperventilation is rapid, sustained breathing without the alternating apnea seen in Cheyne-Stokes. So the described pattern—cyclic crescendo-decrescendo breathing with intermittent apnea—is Cheyne-Stokes respiration.

Cheyne-Stokes respiration is a cyclical breathing pattern in which breaths wax and wane in depth and rate, followed by a short pause in breathing (apnea) before the next cycle begins. You’ll see several breaths that gradually increase in volume and then decrease, ending with a brief period of no breathing. This pattern reflects unstable control of breathing often due to central nervous system disease or severe heart failure, where the brain’s detection of carbon dioxide is delayed or blunted.

This differs from other patterns: Kussmaul breathing is continuous, deep, and rapid breathing without apnea, typically from metabolic acidosis. Apneustic breathing features an abnormal pause at full inspiration, rather than a repeating crescendo-decrescendo cycle. Central neurogenic hyperventilation is rapid, sustained breathing without the alternating apnea seen in Cheyne-Stokes.

So the described pattern—cyclic crescendo-decrescendo breathing with intermittent apnea—is Cheyne-Stokes respiration.