A patient has been admitted to the emergency department for a suspected drug overdose. His respirations are shallow, with an irregular pattern, at a rate of 12 respirations per minute. The nurse interprets this respiration pattern as which of the following?

A) Bradypnea
B) Hypoventilation
C) Cheyne-Stokes respirations
D) Chronic obstructive breathing

Question

Trisha Banik · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : B, Explanation :  Hypoventilation is characterized by an irregular, shallow pattern, and can be caused by an overdose of narcotics or anesthetics. Bradypnea is slow breathing, with a rate less than 10 respirations per minute. Cheyne-Stokes respirations are a cycle in which respirations gradually wax and wane in a regular pattern, increasing in rate and depth and then decreasing. Chronic obstructive breathing is characterized by normal inspiration and prolonged expiration to overcome increased airway resistance. This patient's breathing is hypoventilation.

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