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  • 14 - 20/minute

  • Breathing quiet and effortless

  • Regular rhythm

Respiration - Adult

Normal findings

Normal variation

  • Exertion

  • Emotional excitement

 

Tachypnea > 20/minute 

Bradypnea <12/minute

  • Hyperventilation

  • Anxiety

  • Metabolic acidosis

    • Ethanol toxicity

    • Diabetic acidosis

    • Shock

References

Dental Management of the Medically Compromised Patient. Little, Falace, Miller, Rhodus.  8th Edition

  • Narcotic overdose

  • Head injury

Irregular rhythm

Dyspnea

  • Cheynes/Stokes Respiration

    • 1-3 minute cycle

    • Apnea, shallow breaths gradually increasing in intensity, then apnea

    • Caused by cardiac or renal disease, brain tumor

  • Kussmaul respiration

    • Heavy, labored breating

    • Caused by uncontrolled diabetic with severe acidosis

  • Caused by an obstruction in the respiratory tree

    • Anxiety/stress

    • Asthma

    • Heart failure

    • Valvular disease

    • Foreign body

    • Pulmonary edema

    • Pulmonary embolism

Management of abnormalities

  • Is the patient in immediate distress?  Call EMS

  • Is this a normal variation?

  • Is the patient aware of this condition?

  • Is there anything in the patient's medical history that may be related to this finding?

  • Is the patient anxious or fearful?

  • Medical consultation if the answers to these questions are NO or if the patient's medications or medical conditions may be causing the problem.

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