Cheyne-Stokes breathing

/ ˈtʃeɪnˈstəʊks /

noun

1. pathol alternating shallow and deep breathing, as in comatose patients

Word History and Origins

Origin of Cheyne-Stokes breathing¹

C19: named after John Cheyne (1777–1836), Scottish physician, and William Stokes (1804–78), Irish physician

Example Sentences

A characteristic change in the respiration, known as Cheyne-Stokes breathing occurs prior to death in some cases; it indicates that the respiratory centre in the medulla is becoming exhausted, and is stimulated to action only when the venosity of the blood has increased sufficiently to excite it.

From Project Gutenberg

It was very nearly a sine-wave modulation of the light—and when a Mahon-modified machine goes into sine-wave flicker, it is the same as Cheyne-Stokes breathing in a human.

From Project Gutenberg

Cheyne-Stokes breathing is admirably described as ‘that of a person recollecting himself’.

From Project Gutenberg

Of a sudden there is a sound as of a deep and labored inspiration, suggesting the upward curve of Cheyne-Stokes breathing.

From Project Gutenberg

So this was Cheyne-Stokes breathing, that rare and awful affliction!

From Project Gutenberg