Respironics to ResMed mask - equivalent CPAP pressure?

All,

Apologies if this is a newbie post...

I was diagnosed with OSA a couple of months ago and since then it's been a bit of a whirlwind learning curve! I now feel human again (and I recognised I must've had the symptoms 20 years, AHI now about 2ish from 26ish) and I have adapted to CPAP therapy extremely easily - I feel very fortunate.

I puchased my own PR System One auto-CPAP machine primarily because of its data capabilities, and have been using a ComfortGel Blue mask for the past few weeks. I have now purchased a ResMed Swift FX nasal pillows mask to try out.

I was titrated at 10cm H2O, and I am currently using my machine in CPAP mode at that pressure, as I appear to have a small difficulty in adapting to pressure changes, even over a narrow range of (say) 10-13 cm H2O.

My question is this: The Swift FX nasal pillows have a rather higher intentional leak rate than the ComforGel Blue. At 10cm H2O, the rate is 26L/min for the ComfortGel, and 33ish L/min for the Swift FX (after interpolating on Excel), about 26% higher.

Does this mean I need to increase the CPAP pressure to 12.5cm H2O when using the nasal pillows to ensure the same effectiveness of therapy as I would get using the ComfortGel Blue at 10cm H2O? In otherwords, do I need to make an adjustment for the higher intentional leak rate of the nasal pillows?

Or have I got this completely wrong, and should I therefore leave the pressure set at 10cm H2O when using the nasal pillows?

Have tried searching but didn't manage to find this discussed previously. Thanks for any help!

You do not need to change your pressure...I have gone through 8 masks before settling on my Hybrid..never had to change the pressure once. Another hint for you ...you can use your machine in auto, just turn off the flex features. I have done that with mine after using straight cpap for a year........it won't stop the pressure ramp to chase an event but it will stop the inhale/exhale ramps. My pressure on cpap is 11 so I set my auto at 10 to 15...rarely do I ever go over 11,

James1 wrote:Or have I got this completely wrong, and should I therefore leave the pressure set at 10cm H2O when using the nasal pillows?

There is no need for different pressure using the nasal pillow mask. The vent rate numbers are useful for manual figuring leak rate but don't really affect the therapy or performance at a set pressure.

A few people have actually noticed that they can use a wee bit less pressure when using a nasal pillow mask over a full face mask. Perrysbuckdad is one that comes to my mind at the moment. It is not common though. Most people use same pressure no matter which style of mask.

In general x amount of pressure is x amount of pressure no matter what mask is used. Vent rate is just needed for clearing out the excess carbon dioxide.

Thanks nanwilson and Pugsy, noted. I will keep my machine on 10 for the moment (only want to make one change at once).

I've just got home and have tried fitting the nasal pillows. Astonishingly, they have fitted perfectly with no hassle whatsoever. I was shaking my head about, and they didn't leak, and it doesn't feel tight. Cross fingers I have found the mask I was looking for.

Will be trying out tonight.... wish me luck!

Well, I thought I would post an update for anyone vaguely interested...

... as I mentioned, the Swift FX fitted superbly straight out of the box. The first's night's AHI was 3.8 on a straight CPAP pressure of 10cm H2O (i.e. no difference in pressure from using the ComfortGel Blue) No leaks! I was feeling a bit like a zombie though - I was away from home and had forgotten the power supply for my machine, d'oh. Not sure if this made a difference, but what it did do was remind me of the bad old days...

Last night, AHI was 1.8, after setting the machine back to auto-CPAP with a range of 10-14cm H2O. Max pressure throughout the night was 12cm H2O. Biggest difference in the data as shown by SleepyHead is that the Respiratory Arousals were far lower. Again, no leaks.

OK, so it's only been two nights, but still, it's looking good The nasal pillows have the comfort of the Sleepweaver, but are far quieter and don't leak *at all*.

This board has been an absolute mine of information - there is no way I would have improved my therapy without it's help (would have been struiggling with an ill-fitting mask for one)... thanks again for the replies!