Not accurate sign of respiratory status unless very slow
• Trends are essential in evaluating patient with chronic
respiratory disease
• Slowing rate in patient who is not improving suggests
exhaustion and impending respiratory insufficiency
• Abnormal patterns that may be seen in patients with
severe illness or injury include tachypnea,
Cheyne‐Stokes respirations, central neurogenic
hyperventilation, Kussmaul respirations, ataxic
respirations, apneustic respirations,and apnea