BiPAPs should not be used with heated humidifiers????

While researching BiPAPs online yesterday, I ran across a medical article stating that BiPAPs/BiLevels should NOT be used with heated humidity because the schew the sensitivity or something.

The article also said that after 2-3 days without humidity that the mucousal lining of the nose etc would adapt to the air and would no longer dry out.

Anyone else heard this?

I've not heard that. But my pulminory doctor ordered the bipap and heated humidifier at the same time. He's dealth with enough OSA patients, I would hope he'd know whether or not there was a problem with that. (but we all know how doctors can be). If you find out anything more about that article, please let us know.

Thanks.

Linda

It's very rare that i use my humidifier with my bipap, been using it for a little over a year

That's the first I've ever heard of a recommendation to not use humidification with a bipap. And first I've ever heard of the mucous membranes "getting used" to drying out.

I know some people don't need extra humidification with any type of cpap machine. And some do. For those who do, that article's recommendation sounds like a recipe for discomfort that wouldn't go away, imho.

The only time I turned the heat element on for the water reservoir with my BIPAP (about two weeks ago), I nearly suffocated. I won't do that again.

Went through my History list and found the article in question. It is obviously directed to RTs on fitting a patient with a BiPAP but has some very good suggestions for mask fitting too.

http://www.nemc.org/RespCare/bipap.htm

Hi all,

I use a heat setting of 2 on the remstar heated humidifier along with my BiPap Pro 2. I don't have a nasal blocking problem but I like the humid air, especially on my throat - it gets dry if I do not use the humidifier.

My new, higher setting of 16/11 seems to dry my throat without using the humidifier.

Andy

Oh, that's just great! Something new to worry about!
Here I just spent my first 3 nights on my Resperonics BiPAP pro 2 with my heated humidifier on and set to 3!
Now, you're saying that's bad??
As far as getting used to being dried out. I've been breathing through my mouth for years before going on therapy. Waking up with the old Sahara mouth. Yes, I got used to it because it became normal to wake up like that. Did I like it? NO. Was it uncomfortable? YES.
I had to get up and find a faucet to rinse my mouth with water and hold it in there to rehydrate my mouth.
I don't want to go back to THAT.

I think a lot will depend on where you live and the natural humidity in the air. Above all, we have to consider our comfort with this treatment.

Reading the reference list, I noted that the newest article listed is ten years old. I wonder if there is any recent research that deals with this issue?

Ann N.

I agree with Ann that the article is pretty outdated. It sounds like they are talking specifically about the original Respironics BiPAP ST. I have my own for a backup to my rented Synchrony that works great...and since it was basically new (had less then 20 hours) & built like a tank it will probably outlast any of our newer BiPAPs. At some point Respironics added AutoTrack Sensitivity technology to the original BiPAP which they continue to use in current BiPAPs.

Besides the article doesn't say anything about heated humidifiers- it only mentions Heat moisture exchangers which are a different beast the heated humidifiers. HME are sometimes referred to as "artificial noses"- from what I understand they basically recycle the heat & moisture exhaled into the inhaled air. They function on a totally different principle then heated or passover humidifiers & it looks like they are used primarily for anesthesia and tracheas. Here are a couple links- the first has picture & description and the second technical article on how they affect ventilator pressures- http://www.origin8.nl/medical/withhme.htm http://ccforum.com/content/3/5/R77

The article does recommend passover humidifiers- 10 years ago heated humidifiers were not used with BiPAPs & CPAPs for the most part. I can't remember when they were introduced for use outside of the OR or full ventilator & even when they were introduced they were considered a luxury item, not a necessity so its not surprising that medical people assumed our noses would adapt...xPAP uses didn't have a choice! For me personally I barely lasted 3 days with passover only before I had to get a heated one. Even now just a few hours sleeping without turing on my humidifier leaves my nose & sinuses screaming in pain.

The Whisper Swivel the article mentioned was what they used before masks had built in exhaust ports. I'm glad they are long gone....enough people have problems with mistaking exhaust flow as a leak and can you imagine how many people would just forget to put the Whisper Swivel in because it leaks?