II. Signs

  1. Alternating hyperpnea and apnea at regular intervals (30 second to 2 minute cycles)
  2. Smooth waxing and waning in depth of respiration

III. Pathophysiology

  1. Sites of Injury
    1. Bilateral Cerebral Hemisphere dysfunction or
    2. Diencephalon dysfunction (posterior forebrain structures including the Thalamus)
  2. Mechanism
    1. See Respiratory Physiology
    2. Hyperventilation with rapid and deep breathing results in hypocapnia (decreased pCO2)
    3. Decreased pCO2 suppresses respiration resulting in brief apnea
    4. Apnea results in rise in CO2 again, allowing for Hyperventilation and the cycle repeats itself

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Ontology: Cheyne-Stokes Respiration (C0008039)

Definition (MSH) An abnormal pattern of breathing characterized by alternating periods of apnea and deep, rapid breathing. The cycle begins with slow, shallow breaths that gradually increase in depth and rate and is then followed by a period of apnea. The period of apnea can last 5 to 30 seconds, then the cycle repeats every 45 seconds to 3 minutes.
Concepts Sign or Symptom (T184)
MSH D002639
ICD9 786.04
ICD10 R06.3
SnomedCT 207054004, 123328007, 309155007, 158376008, 50530005
English Cheyne Stokes Respiration, Respiration, Cheyne-Stokes, CHEYNE-STOKES RESPIRATION, [D]Cheyne-Stokes respiration, Breathing Cheyne Stokes, [D]Cheyne-Stokes respiration (context-dependent category), Cheyne-Stokes respiration (diagnosis), Cheyne-Stokes breathing was observed, Respiration Cheyne-Stokes-type, Cheyne-stokes respiratn, Cheyne-Stokes breathing, Cheyne-Stokes breathing (physical finding), Cheyne-Stokes Respiration [Disease/Finding], cheyne stokes respiration, cheyne-stokes breathing (CSR), cheyne stokes breathing, cheyne-stokes breathing, cheyne-stokes respiration, CSR - Cheyne-Stokes respiration, [D]Cheyne-Stokes respiration (situation), Cheyne-Stokes respiration, Cheyne-stokes breathing, Cheyne-Stokes respiration (finding), Cheyne-Stokes; respiration, respiration; Cheyne-Stokes, CSR, Cheyne-Stokes respiration -RETIRED-, Cheyne-Stokes Respiration
Portuguese RESPIRACAO DE CHEYNE-STOKES, Respiração de Cheyne-Stokes
Spanish RESPIRACION DE CHEYNE-STOKES, Respiración tipo Cheyne-Stokes, [D]respiración de Cheyne - Stokes (categoría dependiente del contexto), respiración de Cheyne - Stokes - RETIRADO -, respiración de Cheyne - Stokes, [D]respiración de Cheyne - Stokes, [D]respiración de Cheyne - Stokes (situación), respiración de Cheyne - Stokes - RETIRADO - (concepto no activo), RCS, respiración de Cheyne-Stokes (hallazgo), respiración de Cheyne-Stokes, Respiración de Cheyne-Stokes
Dutch Cheyne-Stokes ademhaling, Cheyne-Stokes; respiratie, respiratie; Cheyne-Stokes, Ademhaling, Cheyne-Stokes-, Cheyne-Stokes-ademhaling
German Respiration, Cheyne-Stokes-Atmung, CHEYNE-STOKES ATMUNG, Cheyne-Stokes Atmung, Cheyne-Stokes-Atmung
Italian Respirazione tipo Cheyne-Stokes, Respiro di Cheyne-Stokes
Japanese チェーン・ストークス呼吸, チェーンストークスコキュウ
Swedish Cheyne-Stokes` andning
Czech Cheyneovo-Stokesovo dýchání, Cheyne-Stokesovo dýchání
Finnish Cheyne-Stokesin hengitys
Russian CHEINA-STOKSA DYKHANIE, ЧЕЙНА-СТОКСА ДЫХАНИЕ
French RESPIRATION DE CHEYNE-STOKES, Respiration de Cheyne-Stokes, Respiration de Cheyne Stokes
Polish Oddech Cheyne'a-Stokesa
Hungarian Cheyne-Stokes légzés, Cheyne-Stokes-féle respiratio
Norwegian Cheyne-Stokes’ respirasjon