Won - Figure 16
Mechanism: Fundamentally Different
FIG. 16: Op-CSA in the form of ataxic breathing is very erratic compared with the uniform oscillations of CSR, suggesting that it is probably related to a different mechanism yet to be described. Among the theories is that this may be a case of competing effects, where respiratory and central depression from opioids compete with a high loop gain, producing this irregular breathing pattern. Alternatively, the chaotic nature of the breathing pattern from non-REM sleep in patients taking opioids closely resembles the breathing pattern during REM sleep, so this may suggest that the metabolic feedback systems, or the loop gains, are less involved in these cases.
Won C. Chest 2016;00.
