BiPap auto question

[WindFlyer]

So, I have this new BiPap auto machine... My sleep study indicated that 21/17 cmH2O was the optimal setting for me. So I have three primary settings, Epap, Ipap, and PS on my new machine. From what I have reesarched, these translate to Low limit, high limit, and sliding window, respectively. SO I set my high end (Ipap) to 22cmH2O and my low end (epap) to 16cmH2O to give a little bit more room for the auto to do it's work. The PS (sliding window) I set to 5. Some machines have a min and a max for this, but mine only has the one number- this is in the clinician's menu. SO my question is: Have I got things set properly? THe results of my sleep study indicate "Notable improvement at 16/12" and "21/17 is the optimal setting" I wonder if I need to bring the low end down at all, or should I widen out the PS (pressure support "sliding window") Thanks in advance.

[Pugsy]

I don't advise the widening of the range beyond the 5 PS....sometimes more PS isn't a good thing. Too much PS can cause problems in some people.. 4 to 5 PS is the most commonly used PS setting in the regular bilevel machines. Now if we are talking ASV bilevels...different discussion but we aren't talking about an ASV machine.

If me I would prefer 4 PS and maybe let the machine roam a bit. Right now you have it extremely limited with essentially 1 cm range upwards.

Since it is said 21/17 is better....what I would have done is
17 EPAP minimum
PS 4
and IPAP max of 25 (assuming that is where your machine will go)
That will give you 17 exhale and 21 inhale (at least when starting out the night) that they said was optimal but the machine could go higher if needed. It won't go higher without a good reason.
PS is fixed at 4...if the machine wants to increase IPAP it will drag EPAP up with it...or if it wants to increase EPAP then it will push up IPAP...always with the 4 cm difference.

[WindFlyer]

Thanks Pugsy!!

[palerider]

So, I have this new BiPap auto machine... My sleep study indicated that 21/17 cmH2O was the optimal setting for me. So I have three primary settings, Epap, Ipap, and PS on my new machine. From what I have reesarched, these translate to Low limit, high limit, and sliding window, respectively.

There's a difference in minepap and epap, as well as maxipap and ipap.

EPAP and IPAP are fixed settings. whereas MinEPAP and MaxIPAP are limits.

I think it's important to keep those concepts straight, so that the whole thing makes more sense. (maybe I'm wrong).

SO I set my high end (Ipap) to 22cmH2O and my low end (epap) to 16cmH2O to give a little bit more room for the auto to do it's work. The PS (sliding window) I set to 5. Some machines have a min and a max for this, but mine only has the one number- this is in the clinician's menu. SO my question is: Have I got things set properly? THe results of my sleep study indicate "Notable improvement at 16/12" and "21/17 is the optimal setting" I wonder if I need to bring the low end down at all, or should I widen out the PS (pressure support "sliding window") Thanks in advance.

Your suggested settings from the study have a PS of 4. I'd go with that until you've got a little experience and want to try other settings of PS (forget 'sliding window'.

I like to leave maxIPAP at 25, because the machine won't go higher than it *needs* to go.

I'd go with minepap of 16, for starters, like you did.

[WindFlyer]

Cool. Thanks for your input palerider!!