Hospital CPAP Use -- Not So Simple

[hyperlexis]

Dad was just hospitalized with a heart attack. They did a stenting procedure and he is now resting.

I went back to get his CPAP and bring it to the hospital for him to use. The respiratory therapist explained however that they would not use it -- that the risk of vomiting, from aerophagia (in a nutshell), in such patients was worse than the risk of apnea. He said that they had better results with only adding oxygen and would keep him on it instead, and that even with any apneas, the oxygen would help better than using cpap.

If dad were not so ill and, perhaps, not so sedated, maybe it would be different, but this was a very interesting theory to hear, and one I had never actually considered being a factor.

[JDS74]

Assuming your dad is using a FFM or an Oracle 452 mask like I do, the therapist may well be correct. In those circumstances, they will be monitoring his SpO2 levels and it will be alarmed so that if he has an extended apnea event the nursing staff will be able to assist him.

I would check with his sleep doctor and his attending doctor to see if the information is correct. Aerophagia does occur with CPAP patients but it is not common. If he uses a nasal mask, it should be no risk at all.

I hope that all goes well and your dad can come home soon.

[grayghost4]

I would think that vomiting for a sedated patient could be a problem even with a nasal mask .... could be aspirated and inhaled into the lungs.

[chunkyfrog]

Aspiration is a very big deal in the hospital.
For the patient, it is horrid and sometimes deadly.
For staff, it means more paperwork than the 1080 long form, (for small businesses).

[OkyDoky]

Aspiration was one of my concerns in an earlier thread regarding use of CPAP in the recovery room especially when using a total face mask. Until a patient is awake enough to cough and protect their airway it can be a serious complication. Maintaining O2 levels while protecting the airway is the important thing until sedation and vomiting becomes less of a concern.

[49er]

Aspiration was one of my concerns in an earlier thread regarding use of CPAP in the recovery room especially when using a total face mask. Until a patient is awake enough to cough and protect their airway it can be a serious complication. Maintaining O2 levels while protecting the airway is the important thing until sedation and vomiting becomes less of a concern.

That might have been my thread since I was going to use the total face mask in the recovery room after my septoplasty which my surgeon and anesthesiologist had approved. The machine was never used because apparently, I woke up pretty quickly.

Interesting regarding the issue of aspiration. Never thought about that so I thank Hyperlexis for starting this thread.