Carbon Dioxide and EPR / C-Flex

[JulySky]

How do changes to EPR / C-Flex settings affect blood carbon dioxide levels?
(I did a search but did not see any discussion on this. Appreciate the link if this has been covered previously.)

TIA

[kteague]

Thanks for asking that question. Was recently discussing minimum vent rates in chat. Having a hard time finding that - it used to be listed in mask specs but I checked out manufacturers of a few masks and still couldn't find it. I need to find the booklets that came with my mask and see if it's still included there.

Does the exhalation relief drop the pressure below the minimum pressure recommended for a mask? This is a subject I'm looking to learn about. Look forward to reading the answers.

Kathy

[Wulfman]

How do changes to EPR / C-Flex settings affect blood carbon dioxide levels?
(I did a search but did not see any discussion on this. Appreciate the link if this has been covered previously.)

TIA

"All things being equal"......Those two exhale relief technologies shouldn't affects CO2 levels to any degree. Mask vent rates and a therapy pressure that's too low would probably have more effect. The vent rates should NOT make a difference either, unless (possibly) the therapy pressure was too low.

From what I've read about Central Apneas and the related treatment, a certain CO2 level is desireable as it is a factor/condition that tells the body to breathe.....since something in the brain has been short-circuited in that regard......possibly due to strokes or some other previous health events that have altered the normal breathing patterns.

Den

[Goofproof]

I am currently doing the No,No, of changing the vent rate lower on two of my ComfortGel masks. I have descovered a 10 LPM difference in vent rate at 14.5 CM. This is a manufacturing problem, that happens every run, these masks are made in China, need I say More. I hope they aren't radioactice, they don't appear to glow in the dark.

The danger is getting the vent rate too low, so far I have got the vent down to 25 LPM @ 14.5, and am using it with good success. Testing continues! Jim