Help for interpreting data from Resmed S8 Elite II

[borck]

Hello !

My everyday machine is the S8 Escape, with fixed pressure set to 11.6.

I have a Resmed S8 Autoset Elite II for the weekend (lent by the hospital) to check if I need pressure change and if everything else is ok (leaks, AHI, ...).

I used it for the first time this night and here are my numbers :
- hours : 8.5
- pressure : 12
- leaks : 0.12 L/s
- AHI : 5.6
- AI : 0.2
- HI : 5.4
Could you please comment on these number, as I have no idea how good/bad they are ?

I must say I woke up a lot this night, I remember having some mouth leaks (even though my mouth was taped!).
So I'm interested to know how to read the leak measurement.

Thanks

borck

[turbosnore]

Your numbers seem to be close to mine.
They could be better, but they are not bad.

The leak is highish thou.
Remembering that ResMed HI is typically double compared to other machines, and the AI is low,
I think the setting is quite good.

Resmed S8 can compensate for leaks upto 0.40 L/s, so this can be taken as the limit above which the
treatment is effective and the numbers can be trusted.

[cpapqueen1]

Is EPR enabled on the loaner unit?? If it is disenable EPR, you should see your HI's decrease. Overall not bad numbers.

[webbie73]

Cpapqueen1, you mentioned disengaging the EPR will lower the HI. Can you provide more information? Is it better to reduce the EPR or disengage it? Or does it not matter?
Thanks,
Kathy

[DreamOn]

Kathy, EPR is mainly a comfort feature, helpful if you have difficulty exhaling against your set pressure. EPR setting choices are 1, 2, 3 or Off. With the ResMed machines, EPR will drop the pressure on exhale by that much. For example, if your set pressure is 12 and you have EPR set to 3, then you're exhaling at 9. It is my understanding that most people experience apneas/hypopneas during the inhale cycle, but some can have them during exhale, or during that pause between the switch between exhale/inhale.

I'm not sure what your EPR setting is presently, but you can experiment with all the EPR settings and see what's most comfortable for you. Give it a few nights at one setting before trying another. Results vary from person to person. I do better when it's Off, but others have better results at other settings. If you're new to CPAP (and especially if your pressure is high), you may prefer EPR. Many people don't need it after a while, as they become more acclimated to the pressure.

[webbie73]

Thank you DreamOn. I have been on CPAP for about 10 months and am adjusted to it's use. I don't use the ramp setting so I might start backing off the EPR which is still set at 3 by the DME. Thanks for your answer.