What term describes slow, shallow, irregular respirations often seen in dying patients?

What term describes slow, shallow, irregular respirations often seen in dying patients?

• A. Agonal respirations
• B. Cheyne-Stokes respirations
• C. Kussmaul respirations
• D. Biot respirations

Answer: (A)

Agonal respirations describe slow, shallow, irregular gasping breaths that are often seen as a patient is near death. They result from severe brainstem dysfunction and hypoxia and typically do not provide effective ventilation. This pattern is distinct from Cheyne-Stokes, which features cycles of waxing and waning depth with periods of apnea; Kussmaul respirations are deep, rapid, and labored, usually in metabolic acidosis; Biot respirations are irregular clusters of rapid breaths followed by periods of apnea. The slow, shallow, irregular gasping breaths described fit agonal respirations.

Agonal respirations describe slow, shallow, irregular gasping breaths that are often seen as a patient is near death. They result from severe brainstem dysfunction and hypoxia and typically do not provide effective ventilation. This pattern is distinct from Cheyne-Stokes, which features cycles of waxing and waning depth with periods of apnea; Kussmaul respirations are deep, rapid, and labored, usually in metabolic acidosis; Biot respirations are irregular clusters of rapid breaths followed by periods of apnea. The slow, shallow, irregular gasping breaths described fit agonal respirations.