What is the difference be/ cpap and apap?

[kyteacher]

What exactly is the difference between the cpap and apap?

[amos]

CPAP = Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. It is set at a single pressure.

APAP = Automatic Positive Airway Pressure. It is set a a range of pressures. The machine finds the needed pressure to relieve each apnea.

amos

[tattooyu]

Two letters. Oh yeah and what amos said.

[kyteacher]

That's kind of what I thought. I'm just curious as to why wouldn't everyone have the apap instead of the cpap if the apap can tell exactly what pressure a person needs? It just seems to me that the apap should replace the cpap.

How can I tell what my Resmed Auto Set II is set on? Also, can I set my machine from cpap to apap or vice versa or does that have to be set by the DME?

[amos]

APAP is more expensive than CPAP. Many insurance companies will not pay for APAP until you have used CPAP and did not benefit from it.

I have a CPAP set at a pressure of 11. It works for me, and that is all I have ever needed.

Some of the technos on this forum can tell you how to change CPAP to APAP and vice versa.

amos

[bearded_two]

The quick answer is because autoPAPs have problems, such as that they can be slow to react and they can run away. Properly used, autoPAP can be very useful for titrating; improperly used it can run away and start causing central apneas. For many people. straight CPAP is more effective than autoPAP. There are some people who have positional apnea, and autoPAP may be better than CPAP. Another reason is that DMEs don't like to give out autoPAPs because they cost more than CPAPs and they don't get any more for them.

[kyteacher]

Thanks for answering my questions. I don't know if my machine is set for cpap or apap. I go Monday, to the sleep lab (for the first visit since my sleep study) for my follow-up. I've never been told anything except that my sleep study showed a 17, (I'm assuming they're talking about the AHI score) and that was given to me by my DME.

[jweeks]

Thanks for answering my questions. I don't know if my machine is set for cpap or apap. I go Monday, to the sleep lab (for the first visit since my sleep study) for my follow-up. I've never been told anything except that my sleep study showed a 17, (I'm assuming they're talking about the AHI score) and that was given to me by my DME.

Hi,

This situation is just plain wrong--you are being treated like a mushroom. You have a right to get copies of your sleep study results. Your sleep doc should review the results, show you were the problems are, and explain why their proposed treatment will work. You absolutely should have a copy of your prescription and know how your machine is set up. Finally, to start being part of your treatment, you should at least be getting copies of your data from your DME, or better yet, be looking at your own data.

Sorry for the rant and rave.

-john-