Pugsy wrote: ↑Sat Jul 27, 2019 7:25 am
Here's the online clinical/provider manual.
https://www.respshop.com/manuals/ResMed ... %20her.pdf
Yes, you set it the way I was talking about. Using EPR drops the pressure upon exhale 1 cm per setting...so the setting of 2 is a 2 cm drop....setting of 3 would be a 3 cm drop except it can't drop below 4....so 6 with EPR of 3 still gives you 4 exhale. Now during the night if the pressure moves from 6 to 7 or above then there would be a 3 cm drop upon exhale.
The inhale pressure is called IPAP....exhale pressure called EPAP....and when you use EPR to create the 2 distinct pressures you have created a bilevel or dual pressure function. Most people find that having 2 different pressure for inhale and exhale is simply more comfortable...more natural feeling. A few people don't care for it for whatever reason and don't use any exhale relief and that's fine too. You already have found out that pretty much everything related to cpap comes with a big YMMV sticker.
The only thing that is important is how you feel about something and does it work well for you. If you like it...use it.
I have owned real bilevel machines in the past and I have found that I really like that drop during exhale. Just feels more like natural breathing without fighting against the exhale and it's something I just like. There are some other benefits to a bilevel situation too but the main thing is to get someone comfortable with the breathing so they can fall asleep easily and stay asleep. Limit the wake ups whenever we can because anything that causes wake ups is unwanted.
If you want to see what 3cm drop feels like you would need to set the minimum to 7 and the setting to 3. You may or may not like it but it's something to check out at sometime in the future.
Real bilevel machines will offer more than a 3 cm drop....the difference between IPAP and EPAP is called PS or pressure support.
Using EPR creates PS. So that's why we often say that using EPR creates a poor man's bilevel.
Cool and thanks for the response.
Interesting that if I set the EPR to 3 I'll only get 2 relief if I'm cruising at 6cm h20 because the machines minimum is 4.
If my pressure goes to say ...10 I'll get a 3 relief
Did I get that right ?
I forgot to mention that the 2 pressures remind me of BiPAP machines that we set at work. IPAP to 15 and EPAP 5 for example. I'm familiar with it but as a Respiratory guy we don't get into it all as detailed as you guys do and I'm thankful for your knowledge.
We usually get a Sleep study report , look at the AHI and the MD recommends the settings and then we set it and bam on to the next thing. Different machines for different people. Some have Respiratory rates , some have pressure support , some are CPAP with just one pressure and some are Bipap's.
Interesting enough that there are so many different type machines that when I have to set them, I almost always have NO manual or paperwork and I have to google it all. 90% of the time I end out in a CPAP forum like this to find out how to do it. It's a crazy world out there ...lol
Big thank you for the clinical manual THANK YOU !!!!
and for looking at how I set it of course
