A terminally ill patient's respiratory pattern has changed and is now cyclic in nature, with increasing and then decreasing depths that are spaced by brief periods of apnea. The nurse charts that the patient is having
A) Cheyne-Stokes respirations.
B) Biot respirations.
C) Apnea.
D) Eupnea.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The respiratory pattern described in the question is consistent with Cheyne-Stokes respirations, which are cyclic in nature with alternating periods of deep and shallow breathing followed by periods of apnea. Biot respirations have irregular breathing patterns with unpredictable periods of apnea, and do not follow a cyclical pattern like Cheyne-Stokes respirations. Apnea refers to a complete cessation of breathing, which is not present in the described pattern. Eupnea refers to normal, regular breathing, which is not present in the described pattern.

A Terminally Ill Patient's Respiratory Pattern Has Changed and Is