Respironics BiPAP autoSV Info

[bigfoot]

After a recent sleep study, my doctor has ordered a BiPAP machine change for me. My DME Company is delivering a Respironics BiPAP autoSV to me on Friday. Does anyone have knowledge of this device or have any helpful hints on it's use? It appears that my sleep study showed a high number of “Clear Airway Apneas”. Thanks....

[ameriken]

Welcome to the small ASV club.

My understanding: the ASV unit is primarily for folks who have these clear airway (central) apneas. The machine is quite comfortable and you often don't even notice it is working because it has adjusted so well to your breathing. It builds an algorithm that follows your breathing patterns and when something interrupts that pattern, it knows how to respond. When your body decides it doesn't want to breathe anymore, the machine detects the change and after a couple of seconds it will increase its pressure forcing a breath. If you still don't respond on your own, then it increases to a higher pressure. This will continue until it detects that you are once again breathing on your again. In a way, it acts like a ventilator.

While awake, try it...you might want to fool it to see how it responds. Put it on, let it go for a few minutes, then just stop breathing...hold your breath. You'll see what I'm talking about about the pressure pulses. Don't worry...you'll get the feeling it's going to blow your brains out, but the pressure pulse quits long before that happens. I've been woken up by the machine at 3 am a few times with the pressure at it's max of 20. When it gets that bad, it means I just haven't even tried taking a breath for a while.

Great machines, but the breathing problems that require these are generally worse than obstructive apneas. Obstructives are primarily a closing of the throat and a straight CPAP is enough to keep the airway open, whereas those who require an ASV may have open airways, but something else is going on that is suppressing the breathing effort...meaning we are not even trying to take in a breath. An idea what the cause of your CA's? Injury, surgery, opiate use? Mine is due to methadone use for pain. The methadone causes hypoventilation.

Good luck, you're in a great place.

[bigfoot]

Thank you for the response ameriken. I do not have a clue why I am getting the CAs. No injury, surgery or opiate use. For the record they can run as high as 25 to 30 per hour, the rest of the time they are around 20ish per hour…..

[ameriken]

Thank you for the response ameriken. I do not have a clue why I am getting the CAs. No injury, surgery or opiate use. For the record they can run as high as 25 to 30 per hour, the rest of the time they are around 20ish per hour…..

You might want to ask your doc as to why you have them, there has to be an underlying cause. If there is a way to tackle the underlying cause, then you might be able to tackle the apnea. For example, since methadone for pain may be the culprit, I am in the process of cutting back on methadone. I'm not completely off yet, but I've already noticed a consistent increase in my PTB's (patient triggered breaths). At worst, I was only trying to breathe 40% of the night, now I'm up to 90% and above.

Sleep apnea is a result of something else going on. ASV therapy only helps us survive the night by keeping us breathing, it doesn't solve the problem of what is causing the hypoventilation. So you might want to find out the why behind the what, if even just for your own knowledge.