What it means
Deep, fast breathing that does not slow down, named after Adolf Kussmaul, the German physician who described it. The body breathes this way to blow off carbon dioxide when the blood is too acidic, so it is seen in metabolic acidosis, most often diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The breath may smell fruity from ketones.
For the nurse
Count the rate for a full minute and note the depth as well as the speed. In a client with diabetes, check the blood glucose and report it right away: deep, rapid breathing with a high glucose points to DKA, an emergency.
In a chart
"Respirations 32, deep and regular; fruity odor to breath; glucose 486 mg/dL."
Remember it
Kussmaul breathing is the body trying to breathe the acid out.
At a glance
| Spanish | respiración de Kussmaul |
|---|---|
| Also written | Kussmaul breathing, Kussmaul respiration |
Related terms
dyspnea
Difficult or labored breathing, or the feeling of not getting enough air.