Abnormal Respirations

Function

Respiratory disorders can significantly impact a patient's quality of life. Many respiratory diseases disrupt the normal gas exchange process, reducing oxygen supply to the tissues and causing an accumulation of carbon dioxide. Consequently, individuals experience symptoms like dyspnea, fatigue, and decreased exercise tolerance.[2] To cope, the body activates compensatory mechanisms, often involving an increase in breathing rate or effort to maintain sufficient oxygen levels.

Inflammation of the airways is a protective response against environmental triggers. However, in certain respiratory disorders, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), this inflammation can persist chronically, leading to airway damage. A similar occurrence is observed in cases of chronic cough associated with bronchitis.

Individuals affected by respiratory disorders frequently experience fatigue due to the heightened effort required for breathing and the decreased availability of oxygen.[3] When combined with dyspnea, these symptoms can significantly limit a patient's daily activities, exercise capacity, and overall quality of life. Living with a respiratory disorder can also have psychological consequences, leading to anxiety and depression. Patients often struggle with the fear of breathlessness, persistent symptoms, and diminished quality of life. Therefore, implementing appropriate treatment and lifestyle modifications is crucial to enhance the quality of life and prognosis for individuals with respiratory disorders.

Issues of Concern

Disordered respiration can be an uncomfortable and distressing experience for patients. Although specific data regarding its prevalence among ambulatory patients is lacking, the widespread occurrence of cardiac and pulmonary diseases indicates the extensive nature of the condition. Cardiac conditions are among the leading causes of death in the US, often manifesting with dyspnea as a primary symptom.[4] Additionally, obstructive lung diseases, such as asthma and COPD, affect approximately 34 million people in the US, many of whom seek medical assistance to alleviate shortness of breath. However, the actual prevalence is likely underestimated due to the underdiagnosis of COPD.[5] Similarly, asthma presents a significant global challenge, affecting approximately 15% to 20% of individuals in developed countries and about 2% to 4% in less developed countries.

Tachypnea is characterized by rapid breathing, with the average breathing rate for adults ranging from 12 to 20 breaths per minute. In newborns, tachypnea signifies a respiratory system issue that can become apparent shortly after birth. It often arises due to impaired fetal lung fluid clearance, resulting in respiratory distress. Transient tachypnea of the newborn is more prevalent in preterm infants, affecting approximately 1 in 100 preterm infants. In full-term infants, transient tachypnea is observed in around 4 to 6 per 1000 infants.[6]

Hypoventilation refers to breathing at a slower and shallower pace than normal, leading to impaired ventilation. This condition ultimately results in hypoxemia and hypercapnia. One example of a disorder associated with hypoventilation is obesity hypoventilation syndrome, characterized by the presence of obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m²) and daytime hypercapnia (PaCO2 ≥45 mmHg) without any other identifiable cause for hypoventilation. Current estimates indicate that 8% of the adult US population is affected by morbid obesity.[7] Within this group, the prevalence of obesity hypoventilation syndrome is estimated to be between 20% and 30%.[8] The overall prevalence of obesity hypoventilation syndrome ranges from 10% to 20%.[8]

Hypoventilation can also be caused by various neuromuscular disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), diaphragm paralysis, muscular dystrophies such as Duchenne and Becker dystrophies, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and myasthenia gravis.[9] The morbidity and mortality associated with hypoventilation syndromes differ based on their underlying causes. For instance, patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome are more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) than individuals with similar BMI without hypoventilation.[10]

Clinical Significance

Eupnea refers to normal, unlabored, and regular breathing at rest. Disorders of respiration can stem from abnormalities in any component of the respiratory system, including the airways, alveoli, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, chest wall, and respiratory muscles. Breathing is influenced by various factors, including blood pH (acidosis or alkalosis), carbon dioxide levels (hypercapnia or hypocapnia), and oxygen levels (hypoxia). The medulla oblongata and pons in the brainstem play a critical role in adjusting the rate and depth of breathing in response to these factors.

Clinically significant abnormal respiration patterns encompass the following:

• Dyspnea is the feeling of difficult or labored breathing, often characterized by a sensation of air hunger or insufficient airflow. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND) is the abrupt onset of severe shortness of breath that occurs during the night, typically waking the patient from sleep.

• Orthopnea is a specific symptom or condition in which patients struggle to breathe when lying flat. Patients with orthopnea typically find relief by sitting upright or adopting a more elevated position, like being propped up with pillows. This condition is often linked with heart failure.

• Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) refers to a cyclical breathing pattern characterized by apnea, followed by a gradual rise in respiratory frequency and tidal volume, and then a subsequent decline in both until the next apneic period occurs.[11] This pattern is commonly observed in patients with heart failure.[12]

• Bradypnea refers to an abnormally slow respiratory rate, notably slower than the average expected breathing rate for an individual at rest. The typical adult respiratory rate at rest ranges between 12 and 20 breaths per minute. Bradypnea is commonly defined as a respiratory rate below 12 breaths per minute in adults, although this reference range may vary slightly based on the information source.

• Tachypnea denotes an abnormally rapid rate of breathing, often defined as a respiratory rate exceeding the normal range for a person's age and physiological condition. The exact threshold for what is considered abnormal or tachypneic can vary, but a common reference point for adults is a breathing rate exceeding 20 breaths/min at rest.

• Hyperpnea involves an increased depth and rate of breathing, typically linked to elevated oxygen demand or metabolic activity. Unlike hyperventilation, which often indicates excessive ventilation out of proportion to metabolic requirements, hyperpnea is a physiological response to factors like exercise, fever, or an increased metabolic rate. During hyperpnea, blood gasses remain within normal ranges.

• Agonal breathing manifests as irregular, gasping, or labored breaths, often resulting from anoxic brain injury. Agonal breathing is often a critical sign of a life-threatening emergency, such as a cardiac arrest. Healthcare professionals or first responders encountering a patient exhibiting agonal breathing should promptly initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation and call for emergency medical assistance. This breathing pattern indicates the failure of the patient's cardiac and respiratory functions, underscoring the urgency of intervention. Swift intervention significantly enhances the chances of survival and recovery for these patients.

• Apnea signifies a temporary cessation or absence of breathing, with 2 significant types: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea.[13]

• Hyperventilation describes an abnormal increase in breathing rate and depth, leading to decreased CO2 concentration in the blood. Emotional stress, anxiety, panic attacks, fever, or certain medical conditions can trigger hyperventilation. Additionally, chemoreceptor stimulation due to metabolic acidosis can drive this condition.

• Hypoventilation is insufficient ventilation incapable of removing adequate Co2 from the body. Hypoventilation can be a sign of various underlying medical conditions, including respiratory diseases (eg, COPD or sleep apnea), central nervous system disorders, certain medications (eg, opioids), or neuromuscular conditions impairing respiratory muscles.

• Kussmaul respiration, named after the German physician Adolph Kussmaul, manifests as deep, rapid, and difficult breathing. This pattern occurs in conditions causing metabolic acidosis,[14] prompting the body to increase the breathing depth and rate to expel carbon dioxide and reduce blood acid levels. Kussmaul respirations can result from disorders like uremia or toxic ingestions, such as alcohol and salicylates.

• The Biot respiratory pattern, observed by French physician Camille Biot, comprises consistent deep breaths interspersed with apnea due to damage to the pons from stroke, trauma, or uncal herniation. With worsening pons insult, the pattern becomes irregular, eventually deteriorating to ataxic breathing. Additionally, opiate intoxication can trigger the Biot pattern.[15]

• Apneustic breathing is characterized by prolonged, gasping inhalations followed by extremely short and inadequate exhalations. This pattern results from upper pons injury, often due to stroke or trauma, signifying severe brain injury and a poor prognosis. Temporary induction can occur by the administration of ketamine.[16]

• Central neurogenic hyperventilation is persistent hyperventilation resulting from head trauma, brain hypoxia, or inadequate cerebral perfusion, primarily due to the midbrain and upper pons damage. Central neurogenic hypoventilation, on the other hand, occurs when medullary respiratory centers do not respond appropriately to stimuli, occurring with head trauma, cerebral hypoxia, and narcotic suppression. Individuals with traumatic brain injury require careful management to avoid hyperventilation and hypoventilation. This often involves a combination of pharmacological, surgical, and medically induced coma interventions to address raised intracranial pressure.[17][18][19]

Disorders of respiration can lead to various respiratory diseases, which will be only briefly discussed here, as comprehensive activities on these topics are available. For example, in patients with COPD, the onset of hypercapnia is mainly associated with more advanced disease, although its occurrence is inconsistent among patients with similar levels of airflow obstruction. Consequently, individuals with comparable spirometric values might exhibit either the "blue bloater" or the "pink puffer" pattern, characterized by eucapnia and normal oxygen levels.[20][21] 

Another example is the Ondine curse, which refers to alveolar hypoventilation due to impaired autonomic ventilation control while maintaining normal voluntary breathing. Classically, individuals with this condition "forget to breathe" during sleep but maintain relatively normal breathing patterns while awake.[22][23] Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, brainstem tumors or infarcts, and surgical manipulation of the second cervical segment of the spinal cord for intractable pain can cause the Ondine curse.[24]

Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

Improving outcomes for patients with abnormal respirations necessitates a collaborative and interprofessional healthcare approach. A cohesive interprofessional team can enhance patient care, ensure timely interventions, and optimize results. Healthcare professionals, including nurses, respiratory therapists, physicians, and advanced practitioners, must receive training to promptly recognize abnormal respiratory patterns such as tachypnea, bradypnea, and apneustic and irregular breathing.

Effective communication among team members is crucial. Nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, and specialists must promptly share observations, assessments, and recommendations.[25] Clear and concise documentation of patient assessments and respiratory status changes is essential. Respiratory therapists are crucial in assessing and managing patients with abnormal respirations, offering interventions such as administering oxygen therapy, performing respiratory treatments, and managing mechanical ventilation.

Enhancing healthcare team outcomes for patients with abnormal respirations relies on efficient communication, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to patient-centered care. Healthcare professionals from diverse disciplines must collaborate closely to provide the best possible care for these patients.