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Head bobbing or Seesaw Respirations indicate...

a) Normal respiratory effort
b) Severe respiratory distress
c) A need for immediate intubation
d) A non-respiratory medical condition

User Hodges
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Head bobbing or Seesaw Respirations are a sign of severe respiratory distress, often related to conditions like Respiratory Distress Syndrome in premature infants due to inadequate pulmonary surfactant.

Step-by-step explanation:

Head bobbing or Seesaw Respirations are indicative of severe respiratory distress. This condition is typically seen when there is an effort to maximize the efficiency of the respiratory muscles to maintain adequate gas exchange in situations of respiratory compromise.

It is often associated with conditions that lead to poor lung compliance, such as Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS), which primarily affects premature infants due to insufficient production of pulmonary surfactant, leading to the lungs not properly inflating at birth.

Consequently, blood oxygen levels fall while carbon dioxide levels and pH rise. Interventions for severe respiratory distress could, indeed, include oxygen supplementation or potentially intubation to support breathing.

User Sujithvm
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