Standard Procedures for ER's/ Hospitals & CPAP?

[SleepyEyes21]

On a related topic--

I am having outpatient surgery this week under general anesthesia. The nurse on the phone who pre-qualified me said to bring my CPAP. At the time I didn't think to ask when it will be used. I intend to bring the CPAP, tubes and nasal pillows.

Anyone have experience with surgery and CPAP?

Oh, I can give you my experience from when I had my septoplasty. LOL as I learned more than I ever wanted to know.

If at all possible, get your surgeon to write the orders ahead of time for the machine to be used in the recovery room. Mine didn't want to until the day of the surgery. I would also remind everyone else that you come into contact with the day of the surgery that you need to have access to the machine when you wake up in recovery.

Now, you might wake up so fast that being on the machine isn't necessary. That is what happened me . But better that it be available than not be there.

I would also call somebody to ask if you have the get the machine inspected ahead of time. I was told I wasn't allowed to bring mine which is a whole other post so that wasn't a relevant issue for me. But make sure you do it.

I think I have covered everything. Let me know if you have any other questions.

49er

When I had day surgery the hospital told me to bring my machine, and they "inspected" it while I was in the pre-surgery prep area (they mostly want to avoid getting fried by faulty electric). They used it in recovery; I woke right up but had crappy respiratory drive (thank God for ASV) and a floppy palate to boot, so I was snoring even while awake!

The biggest problem was that they did NOT have the port that feeds oxygen into the system, and my mask doesn't have a port. If your mask doesn't have an O2 port, get the insert that goes between the hose and the mask so that they can feed in oxygen if needed. You can get them from Amazon.

Good luck and speedy recovery.

Oh great point, Darth Lady -thanks for that reminder! During my recent admit, I was on oxygen in the ICU, and they did have to feed it thru the cpap. I will order the insert so as to have an extra with my hospital bag. Is it called an O2 port on Amazon?

[Darth Lady]

Here's the link for what I got - what Amazon has can vary from day to day. But if you search something like "CPAP o2 adapter" you should get more results.

http://amazon.com/gp/product/B00VUFBRYC ... ailpages00

[SleepyEyes21]

Here's the link for what I got - what Amazon has can vary from day to day. But if you search something like "CPAP o2 adapter" you should get more results.

http://amazon.com/gp/product/B00VUFBRYC ... ailpages00

Thanks for the link, Darth Lady. Is there any particular reason why you would want to have three different styles of adapters?

[Darth Lady]

It is confusing, isn't it? As I recall, you select the thingamajiggy that suits your needs by clicking on its box, and they send you three of those. At least that's what happened when I ordered them (just to have them for things like hospitals, as I don't use O2 at home). What happens now when you order - all bets are off. But the price is reasonable, and you should get at least one usable adapter/port out of them.

[SleepyEyes21]

It is confusing, isn't it? As I recall, you select the thingamajiggy that suits your needs by clicking on its box, and they send you three of those. At least that's what happened when I ordered them (just to have them for things like hospitals, as I don't use O2 at home). What happens now when you order - all bets are off. But the price is reasonable, and you should get at least one usable adapter/port out of them.

Ok, thanks for the info. I don't use O2 at home either, but I did use it for a short time during my most recent admit to the hospital. From what I recall, the adapter they used was just a short connector with a small cone-like piece jutting out on one side, that had a rubber cap that could be removed. They removed the rubber cap, and that's where they fed in the O2.

Also - when I first started cpap, I bought a connecter of the same kind (with the rubber cap) to put between my hose and my mask, so I could easily separate my mask from hose when I needed to get up at night to go to the bathroom. Works way better than struggling to get mask separated from the nightmare grip of main hose

[Sir NoddinOff]

When I had my colonoscopy a short time ago, early on I asked the medical assistant assigned to me if I could bring my CPAP in case of an emergency overnight stay. She said it wouldn't hurt to bring it along and leave it in my vehicle. When I arrived the morning of my procedure I asked the assisting nurse if I should bring my machine from the car and leave it in my prep room. She said no problem. However, I eventually declined since my wife was driving me and she could get it in case I needed it for an overnight stay. Anyway, no problems, no polyps, no bleeding, no CPAP etc.

It was nice they offered to allow it in the building, because from what I understand some clinics/hospitals have a restrictive policy of bringing one's own machine into the building. IOW, they will provide a CPAP with the proper medical authorization. In my case, whether they would actually let me set up my CPAP and use it is something I couldn't venture to guess. They probably have a lawyer on call to shoot down such things at the last minute. In my scenerio, all the nurses and assistants were very accommodating about the whole thing.

[SewTired]

CPAP use and requirements at hospitals varies tremendously from state to state. There is no general rule on it and the practice even varies from hospital to hospital. We have really excellent hospitals here and they only started asking people to bring their own cpap/bipaps in last year.

I wouldn't freak out too much. My late Dad was on home oxygen and they didn't give him any at the hospital when he stayed overnight due to a kidney stone. They had one of those little oxygen monitors on him and he was doing well. I brought his portable with me to pick him up. ME, on the other hand, they put oxygen on me almost from the get-go. I have bradycardia and my heart rate drops to 42 fairly quickly without sleeping (it's perfectly normal sitting up).

My suggestion is to ALWAYS bring your cpap with you if you are going to the ER. You might not need it, but if you do, you have it. I bring my brother's every time because 1 out of 3 times, they keep him for a few days. I didn't like leaving it in the car when it was really hot though - I was afraid of it wrecking the machine. I should find out about that. I'd rather leave it in the car and then get it if needed than dragging it along (brother is in wheelchair).

It was nice they offered to allow it in the building, because from what I understand some clinics/hospitals have a restrictive policy of bringing one's own machine into the building. IOW, they will provide a CPAP with the proper medical authorization.

There are no restrictions for you to bring your device into the building. You are prescribed that machine. You just have to make sure that the covering physician adds it to the orders as cpap use isn't always recommended depending on your current health condition. Wasn't a problem at all for my brother - they just wouldn't let him use it until PT checked it out (they are just making sure that it is clean and no damaged cords, etc.). PT may take time depending on how many are currently on staff and what they are dealing with. There might be only 2 PT on staff and they are dealing with several people who are intubated, for instance.

[LSAT]

CPAP use and requirements at hospitals varies tremendously from state to state. There is no general rule on it and the practice even varies from hospital to hospital. We have really excellent hospitals here and they only started asking people to bring their own cpap/bipaps in last year.

I wouldn't freak out too much. My late Dad was on home oxygen and they didn't give him any at the hospital when he stayed overnight due to a kidney stone. They had one of those little oxygen monitors on him and he was doing well. I brought his portable with me to pick him up. ME, on the other hand, they put oxygen on me almost from the get-go. I have bradycardia and my heart rate drops to 42 fairly quickly without sleeping (it's perfectly normal sitting up).

My suggestion is to ALWAYS bring your cpap with you if you are going to the ER. You might not need it, but if you do, you have it. I bring my brother's every time because 1 out of 3 times, they keep him for a few days. I didn't like leaving it in the car when it was really hot though - I was afraid of it wrecking the machine. I should find out about that. I'd rather leave it in the car and then get it if needed than dragging it along (brother is in wheelchair).

It was nice they offered to allow it in the building, because from what I understand some clinics/hospitals have a restrictive policy of bringing one's own machine into the building. IOW, they will provide a CPAP with the proper medical authorization.

There are no restrictions for you to bring your device into the building. You are prescribed that machine. You just have to make sure that the covering physician adds it to the orders as cpap use isn't always recommended depending on your current health condition. Wasn't a problem at all for my brother - they just wouldn't let him use it until PT checked it out (they are just making sure that it is clean and no damaged cords, etc.). PT may take time depending on how many are currently on staff and what they are dealing with. There might be only 2 PT on staff and they are dealing with several people who are intubated, for instance.

Many hospitals restrict the use of personal CPAPs. They have respatory therapy departments that will supply a machine and set it to your pressures. The masks they supply are often terrible so always bring your own mask.

[Goofproof]

Here's the link for what I got - what Amazon has can vary from day to day. But if you search something like "CPAP o2 adapter" you should get more results.

http://amazon.com/gp/product/B00VUFBRYC ... ailpages00

Thanks for the link, Darth Lady. Is there any particular reason why you would want to have three different styles of adapters?

I don't know about the ones sold at that site, but only one kind is the safest, and it's harder to find, more costly than the knock offs.

It has a check valve that blocks the O2 from going into the XPAP, when the XPAP is shut off and vents the O2 out of the hose into the room air. Jim

[SleepyEyes21]

CPAP use and requirements at hospitals varies tremendously from state to state. There is no general rule on it and the practice even varies from hospital to hospital. We have really excellent hospitals here and they only started asking people to bring their own cpap/bipaps in last year.

I wouldn't freak out too much. My late Dad was on home oxygen and they didn't give him any at the hospital when he stayed overnight due to a kidney stone. They had one of those little oxygen monitors on him and he was doing well. I brought his portable with me to pick him up. ME, on the other hand, they put oxygen on me almost from the get-go. I have bradycardia and my heart rate drops to 42 fairly quickly without sleeping (it's perfectly normal sitting up).

My suggestion is to ALWAYS bring your cpap with you if you are going to the ER. You might not need it, but if you do, you have it. I bring my brother's every time because 1 out of 3 times, they keep him for a few days. I didn't like leaving it in the car when it was really hot though - I was afraid of it wrecking the machine. I should find out about that. I'd rather leave it in the car and then get it if needed than dragging it along (brother is in wheelchair).

It was nice they offered to allow it in the building, because from what I understand some clinics/hospitals have a restrictive policy of bringing one's own machine into the building. IOW, they will provide a CPAP with the proper medical authorization.

There are no restrictions for you to bring your device into the building. You are prescribed that machine. You just have to make sure that the covering physician adds it to the orders as cpap use isn't always recommended depending on your current health condition. Wasn't a problem at all for my brother - they just wouldn't let him use it until PT checked it out (they are just making sure that it is clean and no damaged cords, etc.). PT may take time depending on how many are currently on staff and what they are dealing with. There might be only 2 PT on staff and they are dealing with several people who are intubated, for instance.

From everyone's different responses, I can see that the use of CPAP in hospitals varies a lot from state to state. I have brought my backup machine to a planned surgery in the past, however, at a recent colonoscopy I was also told I wouldn't need it, so I didn't bring it. But after these most two recent admits I've had that were total surprises, I will always have my backup machine bag packed and will take it with me whether the procedure is supposed to be 'routine' or not. I know that somebody (maybe PT) will have to check my machine to make sure it has no damaged cords, but the other issue is if I try to use it in the ER, will they let you use a grounded extension cord? Usually, the electrical socket is way behind the head of the bed and I'm not sure the cord to my machine would reach it.

[SleepyEyes21]

Here's the link for what I got - what Amazon has can vary from day to day. But if you search something like "CPAP o2 adapter" you should get more results.

http://amazon.com/gp/product/B00VUFBRYC ... ailpages00

Thanks for the link, Darth Lady. Is there any particular reason why you would want to have three different styles of adapters?

I don't know about the ones sold at that site, but only one kind is the safest, and it's harder to find, more costly than the knock offs.

It has a check valve that blocks the O2 from going into the XPAP, when the XPAP is shut off and vents the O2 out of the hose into the room air. Jim

Thanks Jim. I'll do some searching to see what I can find.

[SewTired]

if I try to use it in the ER, will they let you use a grounded extension cord? Usually, the electrical socket is way behind the head of the bed and I'm not sure the cord to my machine would reach it.

Bring it with you. If they want you to use something else, they provide it. In the meantime, it provides the power you need until they give you something. Just be sure to ask the doctor in the ER to add cpap use to his orders while you wait for tests to come back, so if you fall asleep, you are not choking.

[SleepyEyes21]

if I try to use it in the ER, will they let you use a grounded extension cord? Usually, the electrical socket is way behind the head of the bed and I'm not sure the cord to my machine would reach it.

Bring it with you. If they want you to use something else, they provide it. In the meantime, it provides the power you need until they give you something. Just be sure to ask the doctor in the ER to add cpap use to his orders while you wait for tests to come back, so if you fall asleep, you are not choking.

Thanks for the advice, SewTired. Guess I will just add it to my backup bag. You likely missed my earlier posts on what actually happened at my most recent hospital admit on 10/2: I did tell the admitting RN that I was on cpap. Her exact words were "... that doesn't matter..." As a result, I did not get any cpap or oxygen and laid in a prone position for approx. eleven hours until after surgery (when I did get oxygen in recovery.)

Hey - if I bring my own extension cord, at least I can use it as a lasso if I need to for bad RN's

[Kam23]

I am in the hospital right. As soon as I got to the PACU they put my cpap on with oxygen piggy backed between the hose and mask. Last night I had my cpap and it was plugged in using an extension cord. The hospital I am in is very pro cpap.

[jaycee2]

Back from yesterday's outpatient surgery--

I told all the medical people that I had a cpap but they already knew. No one inspected it. It was for using in the recovery room but I didn't need it. I woke up as soon as the nurse called my name so I never had to use it. There was an additional protocol for cpap patients. After I got dressed I had to wait in a special area on another floor. There I was under observation so they could make sure I was breathing properly. It was supposed to be for two hours but they let me go after one hour because I was doing so well.

I am still groggy today from all the meds. They wanted to stay on top of the pain so I was given several types of pain meds. I must have impacted my sleep last night because I slept longer than usual.

Hmmm..pain meds. I see prunes in my future.