Urgent - Altitude adjustment for travel??

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 3:32 am

ColinP wrote:Am I correct in assuming that if I was titrated at 8 at sea level, and that I have auto adjustment for altitude, that I don't need to compensate?

Yes, that's correct Colin!

Most flow generators that are specified at up 20cm H20 at sea level can actually deliver flows up to ~26cm H20 (as measured at sea level) in order to be able to deliver an actual 20cm H20 flow at altitudes up to 2400 metres (~8000').

Cheers,

Bill

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:13 am

ColinP wrote:Am I correct in assuming that if I was titrated at 8 at sea level, and that I have auto adjustment for altitude, that I don't need to compensate?

Reminder here - PSG is but a snapshot in your life which is why I think an auto should be the standard. Many things will affect the pressure required including weight gain/loss, altitude, sleep position, even fatigue, meds and/or alchohol.

To me the energy required to reach a set pressure would be less if the outside pressure decreased. If everything else remained the same. Am I missing something here?

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Altitude, auto

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:45 am

GumbyCT wrote:Mea Culpa

tater pie · Post by **tater pie** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 3:26 pm

I live in Dallas, Texas, and went to Durango, Colorado, last September on vacation. At the time, I had a Fisher & Paykel plain cpap machine with no automatic altitutude adjustment. My pressure had always been at 12. I called my DME and he gave me some figure to calculate what pressure I would need in Durango and it turned out to be 14. We spent a week in Durango and 14 worked out just fine. I tried the machine on 12 one night just to see if there was really any difference in treatment and there definitley was. I only left it there for about 10 minutes. One thing I noticed is how much more water my heated humidifer used. Here in Dallas, I usually set the humidifier on 2 or 3 and barely use any water out of the humidifier tank at all and in Durangro, the humidifer tank was almost empty every morning. I was a little concerned how my apnea would respond at higher altitudes but I did just fine and we had a really great time on the Durango-Silverton train ride. Since then, I've been able to get a Respironcs BiPap Auto Machine and what a difference!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't know what I'd been missing. No more morning bloating and gas cramps and no more mouth breathing and I don't have to wear my masks so tight so I'm much more comfortable and sleep even better.

GeneS · Post by **GeneS** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:34 pm

Bill
Most mask models have different vent rates so the machine flow rates are different for each mask and pressure so I don't see how a certain flow rate is required for effective treatment. I think you need enough airflow to flush the carbon dioxide and to supply air to breath. I think maintaining the required pressure in the mask is more important than flow once the minimum is met. Do you agree?
GeneS

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Airmini, Medistrom Pilot 24, CMS 60C Pulse Oximeter, ResScan 6