Which respiratory pattern is described as progressively increasing tidal volume followed by a decline with periods of apnea?

Which respiratory pattern is described as progressively increasing tidal volume followed by a decline with periods of apnea?

• A. Ataxic resps
• B. Kussmauls resps
• C. Apneustic resps
• D. Cheyne-Stokes resps

Answer: (D)

Recognition of a crescendo–decrescendo breathing pattern with apneic pauses. This pattern features tidal volumes that gradually increase, then decrease, in a repeating cycle, with brief periods of apnea between cycles. It’s classically described as Cheyne-Stokes respiration and is often seen in patients with advanced congestive heart failure or central nervous system disease, where the respiratory drive and chemical feedback loops cause the waxing and waning effort. Other patterns don’t fit this description: ataxic (Biot) breathing is irregular in rate and depth with no predictable cycle; Kussmaul breathing involves a regular, rapid, deep breathing pattern without apneic pauses; apneustic breathing shows a prolonged inspiratory pause rather than a repeating crescendo-decrescendo sequence with pauses.

Recognition of a crescendo–decrescendo breathing pattern with apneic pauses. This pattern features tidal volumes that gradually increase, then decrease, in a repeating cycle, with brief periods of apnea between cycles. It’s classically described as Cheyne-Stokes respiration and is often seen in patients with advanced congestive heart failure or central nervous system disease, where the respiratory drive and chemical feedback loops cause the waxing and waning effort.

Other patterns don’t fit this description: ataxic (Biot) breathing is irregular in rate and depth with no predictable cycle; Kussmaul breathing involves a regular, rapid, deep breathing pattern without apneic pauses; apneustic breathing shows a prolonged inspiratory pause rather than a repeating crescendo-decrescendo sequence with pauses.