Question

A 62-year-old woman with a long-standing history of hypertension presents with severe headache; it started this morning and is rapidly worsening. During the interview, she suddenly collapses. Your brief examination shows that she responds with extensor posturing on external stimuli. Her deep tendon reflexes are 3, and you elicit Babinski bilaterally. You also notice that her breathing has a peculiar pattern: deep inspiration with a pause at full inspiration, followed by a brief insufficient release and the end-inspiration pause.

How do you best describe her respiratory pattern?

Answer Choices
1 Cheyne-Stokes
2 Apneusis
3 Ataxic
4 Cluster
5 Central neurogenic hyperventilation

Answer 1

The respiratory pattern described is ataxic breathing, which is characterized by a disorganized and irregular pattern of respiration. It can be seen in various neurological conditions, including brainstem injury or damage.

Step-by-step explanation:

The respiratory pattern described in the case is known as ataxic breathing, which is characterized by a disorganized and irregular pattern of respiration. It involves deep inspiration followed by a pause at full inspiration and a brief insufficient release, along with an end-inspiration pause.

In ataxic breathing, the rhythm and coordination of breathing are disrupted, leading to abnormal and irregular breathing patterns. It can be seen in various neurological conditions, including brainstem injury or damage.

Examples of other respiratory patterns include Cheyne-Stokes, Apneusis, Cluster, and Central neurogenic hyperventilation, but based on the symptoms described, ataxic breathing is the best description of the respiratory pattern in the case.