Overview
Watch the patient's pattern of breathing, taking into account the rate, regularity and depth of respiration. Specific patterns of breathing may suggest an underlying pathology.
Cheyne-Stokes Respiration
Look For
- Periods of hyperventilation interspersed with periods of apnoea or bradypnoea.
Significance
- Cheyne-Stokes respiration occurs when hyperventilation lowers the arterial CO₂ below the apnoeic threshold.
Causes of Cheyne-Stokes Respiration
- Physiological - at high altitudes
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
- Congestive cardiac failure
- CNS - stroke, traumatic brain injury, tumour
Kussmaul Respiration
Kussmaul breathing is a deep, rapid, laboured type of breathing that is associated with severe metabolic acidosis - especially diabetic ketoacidosis.
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