Apap vs Vauto

[Toledoriot]

I was prescribed an Apap but found a great deal on a ResMed air curve10 vauto. So I bought it but want to make sure I set it up as close to an apap. Attached is what I was prescribed

[Pugsy]

Setting the AirCurve 10 VAuto to
Mode....Auto bilevel
Minimum EPAP 5
PS to 0
Maximum IPAP 20
Will make it function like an apap with 5 to 20 range.

There are other settings available...leave them at factory defaults which work well for most people.

[Toledoriot]

Awesome. Is there a way to get any EPR if I need? I have seen some people say the when they do get to sleep the machines increased pressure will wake them up as it seems to get harder to exhale against the increased pressure

[Pugsy]

PS is essentially EPR on the bilevel ResMed machines.

EPR of 2 is essentially PS of 2 but figured backwards. EPR is subtracted from IPAP (inhale) while PS or pressure support is added to EPAP (exhale).
EPR can only go to 3 cm though....PS will go greater than 3.

Example of APAP settings with EPR 3 (3 cm reduction upon exhale)
Minimum 7
Max 20
EPR 3
So on inhale you have 7 cm...and on exhale you get 4 cm...7 minus 3 is 4.

On the VAuto to get the same 7 inhale and 4 exhale
you do 4 EPAP....PS of 3 and the max of 20
PS is added to EPAP to give you IPAP of 7

PS is really nice and will make breathing feel more natural.

With a minimum of 5 EPAP on the bilevel machine add in 2 or 3 PS and see how it feels.
I happen to use this same machine but I really like 4 PS so I use EPAP 4 and PS of 4 and max IPAP of 25 but I rarely ever see IPAP more than 14 cm. The maximum setting isn't the most critical setting....the minimum setting is the most important setting to get right because it does the bulk of the work.