What is ASV?

I am embarrassed to ask because I know it has been discussed endlessly, but now that it matters to me I did a search and there results were also endless (probably a better way to search)

After being here for a few months I took the advice I have seen given to so many and stopped by my sleep docs today and asked for my sleep study and prescription. When I read the sleep study I was surprised to find that my main issue was Central not obstructive and they suggested an ASV might be in order. I have been doing pretty well on my Airsense 10 Autoset but when I do have events they are CA's. I wasn't really concerned because I learned on here that they way the machines interpret the data most things that do not fall under OSA are dropped into the CA basket.

So, I am just trying to learn a bit more about this before I see the doc again in January.

Adaptive Servo-Ventilation

i would recommend reading this thread to get the information you need: viewtopic/t75776/What-is-ASV.html

and pay attention to what JohnBFisher says.. You should probably look at all his past posts to learn a lot about the ASV Machine.

ASV besides the above = amazing!!

I use to have obstructive apnea when I first started 3 years ago with an auto cpap, along the line, i developed Central's - alot of them. Learned it thru this very forum first. I bought a used ASV and my ahi went from 40-50's on cpap to sub 10's and even some sub 1's thanks to Dr. Pugsy

I have a s9 Adapt Asv - picked it up used but man its a great machine

the machines interpret the data most things that do not fall under OSA are dropped into the CA basket.

I am not too sure on that one. I am sure pugsy or someone might pop onto the thread and shead some light. Its been such a turn around for me personally, its a shame it took me going the grunt work - but in time ill get that needed in lab sleep study etc and a new ASV.

The discussion threads listed above are pretty good explanations. I affectionately call it "Puff the Magic Dragon" because it provides varying levels of inhalation air pressures with each inhalation followed by a drop in air pressure that try to maintain your recent breathing pattern when you don't maintain the recent breathing pattern. So you will read about people who refer to uncomfortable bursts of air on inhalation when they start with Puff,and some people lower the maximum inhalation pressure for comfort and compliance, but always do what the good sleep study says to do. I think it is for people with shallow breathing and/or who stop breathing without an obstruction, but who can still maintain a decent but imperfect breathing pattern on their own. Puff also deals with obstructive apneas mainly with the exhalation pressure setting, I think.

Your machine now..the AirSense 10 has an apnea basket but it does do the sub categories in that apnea basket of OA and central in that basket.

The older machines in the cpap/apap model line didn't have a central category at all.

What may have you confused is the fact that the new ResMed ASV machines use only the apnea basket with no way to know if Obstructive or central.

There's an AI (Apnea Index) with no sub categories and an HI (Hyponea Index) and that's what makes up the AHI on an ASV (ResMed only though) machine.

Respironics ASVs do flag centrals separately.

The lack of a central category separate is really not a big deal. As long as the machine is set so that its little hands aren't tied the machine will treat the centrals and they just won't happen anyway because the machine is doing its job and breathing for you.
As to why ResMed elected to have only the Apnea basket without sub categories...I don't know. I never could find anything official in terms of reasons. Perhaps the FOT that is used to distinguish centrals from obstructives couldn't be used on the ASV machines...just speculation on my part...I don't know.
It's something that while I wonder about it I have had to accept on faith that they know what they are doing.

I am using the S9 Adapt which is ASV...I am using it to treat obstructives...never really had more than an occasional central but on occasion I see a big burst of pressure noted that probably is in response to some central (probably sleep onset). We all have centrals now and then but it is only when a person has too many of them that they become a problem and need treating.
Long story why I am using the Adapt...save it for a different day. I did it on my own and out of my own pocket and only when I got a screaming hot deal to try it.