Breathing Patterns
By
BreathSounds
1
© 2011 – J. D’Urbano – BreathSounds
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Breathing isn’t just a matter of inhaling the good air and exhaling the bad used air. The entire
respiratory pattern is important. Rate, depth, timing, and consistency of breaths are all important to the
delicate balance of respiration and metabolism.
Certain illnesses or injuries can cause changes in the breathing pattern. Changes other than the
typical fast or slow breathing that is most common with many conditions. Below are some of the less
common breathing patterns that make many healthcare professionals ask themselves… “Hey, what is
that pattern anyway?”
Breathing Patterns:
1. Cheyne-Stokes respirations
a. Definition: This respiratory
pattern is characterized by
periods of respirations during
which the tidal volume starts
shallow and gets progressively
deeper, and then gets
progressively shallower. This shallow-deep-shallow pattern is followed by periods of
significant apnea that can last up to 30 seconds or longer, then the cycle starts over. Each
cycle can take anywhere between 30 seconds and 2 minutes or longer.
b. Causes: This pattern of respiration is often caused by strokes, traumatic brain injuries,
brain tumors, carbon monoxide poisoning, and metabolic encephalopathy. This pattern of
respiration can be seen in healthy patients experiencing first-time high altitude sickness,
and can also be a normal side-effect of morphine administration.
2. Biot’s breathing (aka cluster respiration)
a. Definition: A respiratory pattern
characterized by periods or
“clusters” of rapid respirations of
near equal depth or VT followed
by regular periods of apnea.
b. Causes: Biot’s breathing can be
caused by damage to the medulla oblongata by stroke (CVA) or trauma, pressure on the
medulla due to uncal or tentorial herniation. This type of respiratory pattern can also be
caused by prolonged opioid abuse.
