Cheyne Stokes Respiration

Can anybody either give me a definition of or point me in the direction of where I could find a definition of Cheyne Stokes Respiration CSR.

I understand it may have something to do with the heart but what kind of respiration is it, exactly?

Fifi,

I googled it and this is the most clear definition I found.

http://www.predictonline.com/sleep4.htm

Hope this helps

The internet is an amazing thing. Google is great! Wader found a good one...here are some more, Fifi.
___________________________

medicalglossary.org

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.
___________________________

mywhatever.com

Cheyne-Stokes respirations refer to a rhythmic change in respirations wherein breathing becomes shallower and shallower variably with a slowing in respiratory rate that culminates usually in complete cessation of breathing for several seconds to more than a minute. This is followed by progressively stronger respirations that become exaggerated and quite deep. This pattern is thought to result from abnormal brainstem responses to CO2 levels in the blood - initially undercompensating and then overcompensating.
_____________________________

medical.webends.com

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.
_____________________________

yahooligans.yahoo.com

An abnormal type of breathing seen especially in comatose patients, characterized by alternating periods of shallow and deep breathing.
_____________________________

Thank you rested Gal and Wading Thru. Great links

There is a ResMed machine designed specifically for patients with Cheyne-Stokes breathing. Called the ResMed Autoset CS2, it's already being used in European countries, and I think, Canada and Mexico. It's undergoing FDA trials now in the U.S., so has not been released here yet.

Sounds like it may be the world's first combination of autopap/bipap capability in a single machine. I don't understand the technicalities, but there's some information about it on ResMed's site here:

ResMed Autoset CS2

(It requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.)

There's an artist's graphic in that brochure depicting how respiration waves look during Cheyne-Stokes breathing and how the waves even out smoothly when on the CS2 machine.

As I understand it, this machine is designed primarily to treat Cheyne-Stokes respiration in people with severe heart disease. I read on another message board that a man who was awaiting a heart transplant participated in the clinical trials of the machine in Europe. The CS2 machine relieved his heart problem to the extent that he no longer needed a transplant and removed his name from the transplant waiting list.

When this machine finally gets FDA approval and is released in the U.S. it could be a real life saver for many desperately ill heart patients with Cheyne-Stokes respiration. Thankfully, I don't have that problem, but if I did, I think I would be moving heaven and earth right now - to get that machine from another country where it's already available.