CPAPs vs. O2 lines in hospital

[dusty0318]

Is it necessary to take your machine to the hospital or is the continuous flow of oxygen sufficient?

[Julie]

What continuous flow of 02? Do you mean during surgery? You wouldn't (and no one does) need Cpap during surg, but in the recovery room, that's where it's important (no 02 lines there... unless there are specifically for your case).

[dusty0318]

i have asthma and they always put me on oxygen when i'm admitted

[OutaSync]

It seems to me, and I could be wrong, that the oxygen running in the nose won't get very far if you are not breathing. I brought my CPAP to the hospital and hooked up my oxygen tubes to my mask after they moved me to a room. There are little plugged up holes in my mask that I assumed were for the oxygen plugs. The nurses had no idea what to do and acted like they had never heard of CPAP, even though one of them was sure that her boyfriend had sleep apnea and she wanted him to get it checked out.

I hope I never have to go back to that hospital, as I had terrible care there. Even though I had told the admission clerk, and my doctor, that I had sleep apnea, the anesthesiologist only said one word ( Ola!) to me before he put me out. I was expecting him to talk to me beforehand and he never did.

Make sure you bring someone with you who knows how to set up your machine.

Bev

[EDNurseAngel]

Yes, it is absolutely important. The low flow rate of oxygen will do nothing to keep your airway open. Anyone on CPAP or BiPAP should always take their machine with them to the hospital. If you are having surgery, you should make sure that the anesthesiologist is aware that you use a CPAP. Narcotics and the medications that are given for anesthesia depress the respiratory drive. Couple that with an airway that can be obstructed during sleep or unconsciousness and you run the risk of serious complications.

Blow-by oxygen, which is how all oxygen is provided, unless you are being mechanically ventilated is only as good as your respiratory effort. A patient placed on 100% supplemental oxygen can still become apneic and die.

Now, your doctor may decided that you need additional oxygen in the hospital, and you can be given a higher concentration(than room air) of oxygen through your CPAP while sleeping, and probably through a nasal cannula while awake.

When you come into the hospital, their Bio-Med department will give your machine a quick once over, all they are really looking for is that it is in good working order and doesn't present a fire hazard for the hospital. Your doctor need to know what your settings are. They might have to be adjusted based on your physical condition and vital signs.

If you ever have to go to the hospital on an emergency basis, let the staff know that you sleep with a CPAP as soon as you can, if possible have a family member retrieve your machine and bring it to the hospital. If it isn't possible, the hospital can set you up with their machinery, but this isn't ideal. There is often no choice in mask type, you will get a full face mask. And this takes a machine out of use that might be needed by a person who doesn't have their own.

If you are bringing your underwear and toothbrush, bring your CPAP. They are all things you need on a daily basis.

[Stormynights]

When I was in the hospital they furnished me a machine and mask set up but it stunk so bad I couldn't use it. I was afraid to bring my own machine because I didn't want it to get damaged.

[OutaSync]

EdNurseAngel,

Welcome to our forum. It's great to have another nurse on board. Thank you for that information.

I wish we had a CPAP educated nurse on staff for my last surgery. I knew what should have happened, but they knocked me out before I could talk to the anesthesiologist and left me unconcious in the recovery room for a couple of hours on only oxygen. I have very long apneas and anesthesia always takes a long time for me to pull out of. When they moved me to a room, I was not even hooked up to an oximeter. My friend had brought my CPAP and helped me hook it up. It was a very long night with very little sleep. If I ever have to go through another surgery, I will know better what to do.

Bev

[StevenXXXX]

Is it necessary to take your machine to the hospital or is the continuous flow of oxygen sufficient?

You should absolutely take your machine with you to the hospital and use it every time you sleep.

If you are having surgery, make absolutely sure that everyone knows you are on CPAP, but especially let the anesthesiologist know.

The couple of times I have had fairly minor surgery, the 2 different anesthesiologist said that I would not need the CPAP in recovery since they would bring me out of sedation more slowly, keep me on oxygen longer than normal, and they would monitor my breathing much more closely. But, I should have it in the hospital in someone's possession just in case. Never had to use it in recovery. I kind of got the feeling that they really would not want you to use it in recovery.

Once you get sent to a regular room, you can use your CPAP when sleeping (just as you would normally do at home).

[StevenXXXX]

What continuous flow of 02? Do you mean during surgery? You wouldn't (and no one does) need Cpap during surg, but in the recovery room, that's where it's important (no 02 lines there... unless there are specifically for your case).

There are definitely oxygen lines in recovery. You are still on oxygen for a short period while you are coming out of the sedation.

[Hawthorne]

I have my backup machine, power cord, a spare mask, hose and an oxygen adapter (in case they don't have one) packed in a bag that can be just picked up and taken to the hospital. The machine is set at my settings and it's already to be plugged in, the mask put on me (or hoepfully I can do that myself!) and it starts up. The bag has a tag on it with my name and address (I also have a sticker on the machine with my name and address on it) and a tag saying it is a medical device - since it is also my travel machine.

The bag is a carry on type bag that has room for other necessities I might need. I don't keep those extras in the bag all the time but, if I was going to hospital and it was planned, I would just put those things in the bag. If I went in an emergency, I would have my machine. Anything else could be brought later.

I have not been hospitalized since I began cpap but I HOPE I am ready!

[sydneybird]

Already stated, but just to reiterate, if your airway is blocked by OSA, O2 is not going to get in there. I would suspect, though, that when you do breath, the increase in O2 concentration will help your body get through those times when your airway is blocked and you are experiencing O2 desaturation. But, supplemental O2 is not CPAP and will not open a closed airway. Take the machine and maybe get an O2 enrichment adapter at cpap.com for $9.

[Randy32]

Yes Bring Your Machine with you. back in jan 11,2011 i had hernia surgery they told me to make sure i bring it i also have asthma and OAD and i was the recovery room and the put me on O2 because of that and My sat's dropped because of the pain med's they were giving me . when brought me upstairs to my room i was also on O2 until i was ready for bed and put my mask on.

[Bert_Mathews]

i have asthma and they always put me on oxygen when i'm admitted

You should absolutely take your machine with you to the hospital and use it every time you sleep.
They have an ADAPTER - that putts O2 into the CPAP line..
It is also IMPORTANT that you set your system up -OR- have somebody with you that know how to set things up .. . . In my "MANY" < SIX in Three years > visits I haven't found a nurse that know much or anything about CPAP..... also note your system is covered by homeowners insurance while in the hospital. I have a backup system that makes it EASY for my Significant Other to set up when I get hauled in even during EMERGENCY and she know how to set it up!!

THEY will furnish you with STERILE WATER for the humidifier along with the ADAPTER - - - - only problem I have had is they will put a sticker on the machine with your name & # - address & BS <Just a pain to remove latter but GoBeGone does the job.....>
BERT

[sydneybird]

Thinking hospitals and germs, I was thinking a hospital setting would be a great time to consider a bacteria filter for the CPAP machine. I can't find any bacteria performance information on the Philips website for their bacteria filter (doesn't even show up) or anywhere else to find out what the particle size filtration specs are. Does it really filter bacteria? Particle sizes: pollen - 10-1000 microns; atmospheric dust - 0.001-40 microns; mold spores - 10-30 microns; Bacteria - 0.3-60 microns; Virus - 0.005-0.3 microns. I don't know what the risk factors are for contracting a virus versus a bacterium in a hospital setting and whether the bacteria filter would be of any value. Also, I can't find any filter specs (particle size filtration and efficiency) for the foam or white filters.