A mixed apnea is best described as which of the following?

A mixed apnea is best described as which of the following?

• A. Starts with a central component that then become obstructive
• B. Starts with an obstructive component that then becomes central
• C. Is characterized by a crescendo-decrescendo breathing pattern
• D. Is caused by CPAP pressure being too high

Answer: (A)

A mixed apnea begins as a central event and then becomes obstructive within the same pause. That means at the start there’s no respiratory effort and no airflow, and as the event progresses the patient’s effort returns but airflow remains blocked due to an airway obstruction. This sequence—central first, then obstructive—defines a mixed apnea. The alternative that describes starting with an obstructive component followed by central doesn’t fit the typical pattern of a mixed event. A crescendo-decrescendo breathing pattern points to a different rhythm, like Cheyne-Stokes respiration, not a single mixed apnea. And while very high CPAP can sometimes reveal central apneas in some patients, it isn’t the definition of a mixed apnea.

A mixed apnea begins as a central event and then becomes obstructive within the same pause. That means at the start there’s no respiratory effort and no airflow, and as the event progresses the patient’s effort returns but airflow remains blocked due to an airway obstruction. This sequence—central first, then obstructive—defines a mixed apnea.

The alternative that describes starting with an obstructive component followed by central doesn’t fit the typical pattern of a mixed event. A crescendo-decrescendo breathing pattern points to a different rhythm, like Cheyne-Stokes respiration, not a single mixed apnea. And while very high CPAP can sometimes reveal central apneas in some patients, it isn’t the definition of a mixed apnea.