Leak Rate with Mirage Quattro?

[jbn3boys]

I am struggling with a killer cold right now....worst I've had in a year and a half on xpap! I've had to resort to using my Mirage Quattro, which I normally despise. (I LOVE my nasal pillows, but literally cannot breathe with them on.) I finally came up with a mask liner last night (old t shirt) that actually stayed in place all night, and I "thought" my leaks were under control with it. I still had some minor strap marks this morning, but nothing I can't deal with. But then I looked at my reports this morning (Both Encore and SleepyHead), and my leaks look atrocious! I am pretty sure I will have to make adjustments tonight based on what those reports look like. (I don't have time to post them right now, as I'm off to work/church. I will try to post later today if anyone is interested.)

Does anyone know offhand what the acceptable leak rate is for a Quattro?

Thanks!
jbn

[DreamDiver]

Does anyone know offhand what the acceptable leak rate is for a Quattro?

jbn
Sorry you're plugged up.
From this thread, I found this list of acceptable leak rates.
For your mask and your listed titration, it looks like anything over about 38 is a large leak. If you're just hovering just below 38, it would still be a good idea to address it.
Keep breathing.

[RandyJ]

I only got my leaks with the Mirage Quattro under control when I added a mask liner + anti-leak strap from Padacheek (http://www.padacheek.com). The strap was key for me to making everything snug enough. (I tried the loose fitting suggestions but they didn't work for me.)

Worth every penny.

[b360155]

I only got my leaks with the Mirage Quattro under control when I added a mask liner + anti-leak strap from Padacheek (http://www.padacheek.com). The strap was key for me to making everything snug enough. (I tried the loose fitting suggestions but they didn't work for me.)

Worth every penny.

I just received a Padacheek liner for the Mirage Quattro and used it the last 2 nights. For me, it's a bit of a trade off. I get very low leak rates without the Padacheek liner but find it more uncomfortable to use any mask having the silicone face cushion directly in contact with my skin. With the Padacheek liner, my leak rates are slightly higher, but still well below the acceptable leak rate and the mask is significantly more comfortable to wear. I've never tried the anti-leak strap. I've found this to be the same with other masks I've used with the Padacheek liner (Mirage Liberty and Quattro FX). Since the leak rates are only slightly higher and still well below the acceptable level of leak, my preference is to use the Padacheek because of the comfort level which gives me a better night's sleep I feel. The Padacheek liners are well made, custom fit and last a long time and I agree, worth every penny.

[RandyJ]

With the Padacheek liner, my leak rates are slightly higher, but still well below the acceptable leak rate and the mask is significantly more comfortable to wear. I've never tried the anti-leak strap.

With the anti-leak strap I got my unintentional leaks down to an average of 8 L/min (well below the 24 L/min that Resmed machines will compensate for); occasionally got it down to 2 L/min... I think the strap makes all the difference.

[Pugsy]

Vent rate is around 39 L/min for 11 cm pressure for the Mirage Quattro.
Which leak rate are you looking at in your software? Total Leak or Excess Leak?
If using Total Leak....Respironics of course doesn't ever give us a definite number for "Large Leak" but from past experience I have found that I don't get any large leak flags till I get 85 L/min or above.
So you probably have more wiggle room than you think you do.
If using Excess leak and not total leak..probably somewhere around 50 L/min would be where the possibly affecting therapy.

So make sure which leak number you are comparing...either total leak (with vent rate included) or excess leak.

[jbn3boys]

Thanks for the input! I knew that graph was out there somewhere, but I sure didn't have the brain power this week to figure out where it is.

I did model my mask liner very closely to the pad-a-cheek one. I will have to look at the anti-leak strap, too. I'm really hoping to not need this thing much longer, but this cold really seems to like to hold on tight.

Here are my graphs from last night.

From SleepyHead:

and


Here is Encore with Unintentional (Excess) Leak rate:


and with Total Leak rate:


And for comparison, here is the previous night, also with the Quattro, but without a mask liner:

[Pugsy]

Looks like Large Leak didn't get flagged until around 90 L/min Total Leak. That's about when I might see it.
Or around 60 L/min Excess leak.

While obviously not the prettiest of leak lines for the most part you were probably far enough below the large leak territory that I would think minimal impact on therapy effectiveness.

Considering you have been ill, likely very restless and not the best of sleeping anyway it really isn't a horrible report.

If it were me I would probably just tough it out with minimal expense or effort put into things except perhaps what might be needed to help you sleep better if the leaks were disturbing your sleep. Not so much from a therapy mindset but from simple disturbing of sleep factor. Your time in large leak was very brief anyway so I don't see huge prolonged times where leaks were enough to hugely impact therapy.