Will Auto/A-Flex work for Central Apnea?

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 5:49 pm

My mom also has SA, but hers is Central AND Obstructive.

Does anyone know for sure if an Auto w/ A-Flex would work for those with central SA? I am interested in letting her try out my machine.

She has a CPAP w/ C-flex now that she is unable to use. Mainly due to not being able to tolerate the pressure. She currently uses just O2 to sleep, but I think she'd have better treatment w/ CPAP....if she could tolerate the Auto/Aflex.

Thanks for any help!

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:44 pm

APAP and CPAP machines are made to treat Obstructive Apnea. There are other PAP's made to treat centrals. Jim

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:01 pm

it "might" if it stabilizes her breathing, all depends on what her titration study showed.

If she is still having a lot of centrals (think it has to be >11 hr) and mixed apnea she may need to be titrated on a Adapt SV machine. No machine directly addresses central apnea, if they do they do it by manipulation of your chemoreceptors by stabilizing breathing, as a result of that stabilization do the centrals diminish.

The A-Flex machine is NOT designed to distinguish that condition and/or stabilize breathing like the AdaptSV machine is supposed to.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:05 am

Simple answer is *NO*

BiLevels (Bipap Vpap) with S/T are one way of managing Centrals

Else (under good RT advice) a Sv machine (Vpap SV or Bipap SV) are claimed to deal with Centrals.

Good luck

DSM

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:05 am

Thank you all for the help. Sounds like most likely she needs to start over with the ones you've mentioned.

Appreciate it!