sigh

sigh.

See periodic deep inspiration.

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sigh [si]

1. a long, audible exhalation.

2. an intermittent inflation of the lungs with a large volume from a mechanical ventilator; this is essentially a deep breath that is incorporated into the ventilation cycle. The use of large tidal volumes has replaced the use of the sigh in many settings.

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sigh (sī),

n an audible and prolonged inspiration followed by a shortened expiration.

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sigh

complementary breathing cycles characterized by a quick, deep inspiration followed by a slower expiration; probably a compensatory mechanism to counter poor ventilation.

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sigh

Augmented breath Pulmonology A breath occurring at regular–predictable intervals, possibly in response to the slow ↓ in lung compliance seen when constant ventilation is maintained; sighs tend to be followed by smaller than normal breaths. Cf Noisy breathing.