Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Ataxic respiration
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Ataxic respiration is an abnormal pattern of breathing characterized by complete irregularity of breathing, with irregular pauses and increasing periods of apnea. As the breathing pattern deteriorates, it merges with agonal respirations.
It is caused by damage to the medulla oblongata due to strokes or trauma. It generally indicates a poor prognosis, and usually progresses to complete apnea.
The term is sometimes used interchangeably with Biot’s Respirations, but technically, Biot’s respirations refers to groups of similar-sized breaths alternating with regular periods of apnea.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]