Leakage help?!?!

[Chefchad37]

Cpap users,
I use the respironics remstar pro m-series cpap machine. My leakage shows data for 7 and 30 day averages. My leak on my machines says 57.1L/min with and AHI of 1.8. My cpap pressure is 13cm using the resmed Mirage liberty full face mask. The vent rate on my mask is about 43L/min. So with that in mind, may I leaking from my mask? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Chefchad37]

Any help from my fellow cpap users?

[Sheriff Buford]

Yes, your leak rate is high. High leak rates may produce faulty AHI results. I used the Liberty mask early on. I could not stop leaks and I have a deviated septum, so the air was restricted in entering my body. You may have to tinker with the pillow sizes. Try the other ones to see if you can slow down the leaks. If the mask keeps giving you problems, don't hesitate trying a different type of mask.

Sheriff

[Chefchad37]

Hello,
I have tried all sizes of nasal pillows and none of them seem to leak when I check before going to sleep. You don't think my leaks are in control of you take what was reported minus the intentional leak rate of 43L/min for the pressure of 13cm using the liberty. I'm just so confused. Also my machine doesn't let me input the mask I'm using. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Bill44133]

Hi Chad!

I think your leak rate is good you are using a respironics machine. I think its any number less than 90 is good.

What you cooking tonight.. I am getting hungry.


I wish you will..

[Chefchad37]

Thanks! Any other opinions out there regarding this topic. I appreciate any and all help. Thank you!

[Sheriff Buford]

I'm not sure about the Philips machine. Resmed compensates for a leak rate up to 24 l/m. After that, you need to do something to stop leak. I'm surprised no one has responded to you. They will in good time. Meanwhile, look at your manual. It will explain leak rates. Normally, your machine will indicate the leak rate AFTER calculating the vent rate. Finding a mask that is comfortable and doesn't leak is the key to successful treatment. Normally, the first mask you try is not the one you end up with.

Sheriff

[Bill44133]

When I look at my SleepyHead Leak graph usually shows a 90 being the top line of the graph.

Have you tried to use the free SleepyHead software? It makes monitoring you therapy so easy.

[Chefchad37]

I can't use that because my machine is basically outdated! It's over 7 years old. My machine doesn't count for the intentional leak rate for my machine. Any other ideas regarding my leakage? Thanks for all the input.

[OkyDoky]

Respironics machines report total leak which is intentional leak (mask venting) + unintentional which is what you try to control. You are right to subtract your mask rate to get the unintentional leak that is important. The Resmed machines already take off the mask venting when they report their rates.
I'm not positive how high the leak rates can go on the Respironics but with your unintentional rate around 14 does not impair the machines reporting of events.

[Chefchad37]

Oky,
So with the leak rate given before, is my leaks under control with my mirage liberty? Let me know please. Thank you

[Chefchad37]

Bump. Any other help from other cpap users?

[palerider]

Bump. Any other help from other cpap users?

I could swear I answered just such a question from someone just last week... oh yeah it was from you.

[Chefchad37]

Sorry palerider. Just forgot what you said.

[Pugsy]

For your machine and your mask at your pressure the total leak rate is well within acceptable limits of where the machine can easily compensate for the leak. If you did get up to large leak territory which is 90 L/min for the M series machines you weren't up there very long or we would see a higher total leak average.

I have use a couple of M series machines in the past and I am very familiar with how their leaks are reported....you may be having a little excess leak but it is not much and it sure isn't up near large leak territory so you can put that worry away. Also remember that the vent/intentional leak numbers shown on the mask paperwork also have a slight plus or minus variance anyway....it's not exact...it's just a close starting point for evaluation.

These machines don't start having trouble sensing and reporting and responding until total leak exceeds 100 L/min.
Rest assured that unless the leaks are waking you up often...they aren't a problem until the average gets up close to 90 L/min.