BiPAP pressures

[Crazytired]

Hi everyone,
I really appreciated the advice I received recently - thank you!
My brother-in-law has questions regarding his BiPAP. I’m trying to understand the pressure settings. He has an auto BiPAP order at default pressures of 4-25. Does this represent a min and max for both EPAP and IPAP? Or, is the 4 for the EPAP min, and the 25 for the IPAP max? Sorry if this is a dumb question.
Thank you.

[Pugsy]

The 4 is EPAP minimum and the 25 is IPAP max.

[Crazytired]

So, there is no max for the EPAP, and no min for the IPAP?
If the machine is able to sense how much pressure is needed, why does PS need to be specified?
Thank you!

[slowriter]

Flexible auto PS is a feature of the more expensive ASV machines.

[palerider]

Hi everyone,
I really appreciated the advice I received recently - thank you!
My brother-in-law has questions regarding his BiPAP. I’m trying to understand the pressure settings. He has an auto BiPAP order at default pressures of 4-25. Does this represent a min and max for both EPAP and IPAP? Or, is the 4 for the EPAP min, and the 25 for the IPAP max? Sorry if this is a dumb question.
Thank you.

That's not a complete auto bilevel order, it needs a ps.

[Pugsy]

Flexible auto PS is a feature of the more expensive ASV machines.

Doesn't have to be ASV.....Respironics regular auto bilevels have auto adjusting PS in auto mode.

[Crazytired]

Is there any problem having a set PS (not a range), for auto BiPAP?

[Pugsy]

No problem that I know of having a fixed PS.

[Crazytired]

Thank you. The PS is set at 8. With Default BiPAP pressure. Is that an appropriate PS? Or can you tell without a download ? He just got the machine.

[Pugsy]

Way too much PS for most people unless they need extra special ventilation or something and if that was the case I wouldn't DIYing things at all.

4 or 5 PS....no more. See how it goes.
That will give 4 exhale and 8 inhale.....and can go up to as need always with a 4 cm difference.

Too much PS is very likely to cause carbon dioxide wash out and central apneas can pop up.

[palerider]

Is there any problem having a set PS (not a range), for auto BiPAP?

Given the fact that most bilevels have a set ps... no.

[Crazytired]

Thanks for the feedback.im learning! Can you help me understand why most auto bilevels have a set PS?

[Pugsy]

The only regular (non ASV) type of bilevel device that has a range for PS is the Respironics auto bilevels. They started with System One 60 series models. Prior to that they had a fixed bilevel like all the other brands of bilevels.
I don't know why they decided to offer a range of PS and I never could find documentation as to when an auto adjusting PS might be of special benefit for a regular (non ASV) bilevel machine.

So I can't really answer your question.
Other than that's just the way it has been for many, many years and it works as designed so no one has felt the need to change it except Respironics and like I said...I never could find out why they made the change.

[palerider]

Thanks for the feedback.im learning! Can you help me understand why most auto bilevels have a set PS?

Because that's how they're designed.

Why does your car have an accelerator under your right foot?

[Crazytired]

Thank you both for your help