How does a CPAP respond to airway obstruction?

[Underdog]

Generally, does CPAP respond in any way to an obstruction in the airway? I understand the concept of the machine providing positive airway pressure. But does the device respond in any way if air flow is continually blocked or obstructed? I mean if the CPAP's positive pressure is not enough to overcome the obstruction (like if you held your hand over over the mask or the tube)? what would the machine do? Would it just keep trying to push air or would it eventually turn itself off?

[LinkC]

Never tried it, but I believe it would continue to provide the set pressure. CPAP doesn't know or care if you are breathing.

[BlackSpinner]

Generally, does CPAP respond in any way to an obstruction in the airway? I understand the concept of the machine providing positive airway pressure. But does the device respond in any way if air flow is continually blocked or obstructed? I mean if the CPAP's positive pressure is not enough to overcome the obstruction (like if you held your hand over over the mask or the tube)? what would the machine do? Would it just keep trying to push air or would it eventually turn itself off?

What you are describing is the action of an auto -pap. A cpap just provides one pressure continuously. If you have a data recording machine it will record the results as an apnea and tell you how long it lasted (if you have the software)

[Underdog]

Thanks for helping me to clear this up.

[BigNortherner]

LinkC: Many machines sense flow and other variables to try to detect flow limitations including full obstructive apnea and raise the pressure to try to correct it. My Remstar Auto does that, it has a flow sensor, and I can see the pressure changes in the data record.

It is a challenging task requiring sophisticated software, I gather it can be fooled by water in the hose.