auto-titrating or Fixed pressure

[pudzzy]

Could someone Explain the differences

[Julie]

Cpap is 'fixed' pressure - one setting, one pressure. Auto(titrating)pap uses two pressure settings, a low one usually set at or just below the prescription given by the doctor - i.e. 8, and a high one a few numbers above that to allow for the machine to intercept the majority of apneas at their high points seen on testing, i.e. 12, if you were titrated at 10.

If you're using an autopap to test for apnea at home, though it's not really recommended as there are other disorders it can't really pick up on, what you'd do is set the bottom number very low (the default is 4 on almost all machines), i.e. 5 or 6 (just about no one can breathe at 4 and usually not at 5), and either program in a high number, e.g. 10 or 15 to see where apneas average out overnight (hopefully within the 6-15 range), or else leave the high number unset at the high default of 20.... but the problem with doing that is that if the majority of your 'events' occur at e.g. 12, and your low setting's at 6, the machine will have a hard time catching up to the event (reaching 12, never mind an even higher # up to 20) in time to save you from it, which is why we like to use a high setting a few notches above the scripted one, rather than just leaving it wide open at 20, unless you have reason to believe you need a high one.

[Guest]

If you haven't already, go up to the yellow light bulb and look through the CPAP Wiki. There's lots of information in there about the machines.

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