CPAP pressure

[ronnell33]

Question
My CPAP prescription is for 13cm/h2o, My Phillips-Respironics REMstar Pro C-Flex + shows this pressure. A manometer, when attached to it's outlet shows only 10.5cm/h2o into a blocked hose. This would be the max. pressure available due to hose loss or leakage. Is this a tolerable situation? My RT will not even discuss this issue with me. RON

[VA3AEQ]

You can double check using a pail of water at least 12" deep.

1. Fill Pail to about 3/4 full.
2. Remove hose from mask.
3. Start CPAP
3. Dip hose in pail until the CPAP just stops bubblig.
4. Measure the distance the hose was immersed in the water - It should be close to 13 cm.


Good Luck!

Dave....

[ronnell33]

I have a home made "U" tube manometer with h2o in it and a very good steel ruler graduated with the metric (centemeter/Milimeter) scale. But your idea makes sense and I will try it just because. I am questioning the seriousness of this. RON.

[ronnell33]

Quite the Idea, a bit spattery but works and is very inexpensive. Bubbling stopped about 10-11 cm. depth. So my CPAP is 2 or more cm lower than prescription, by two methods of measure. RON

[LinkC]

Obviously, if your measurements are accurate, the machine is NOT putting out the indicated pressure. Are you having poor results? If so, increase the machine setting until you achieve 13cm on your manometer, and try that. If things improve, your machine is out of cal and needs to be fixed/replaced.

It appears your RT needs to be fixed/replaced also...

[Lizistired]

I have a home made "U" tube manometer with h2o in it and a very good steel ruler graduated with the metric (centemeter/Milimeter) scale. But your idea makes sense and I will try it just because. I am questioning the seriousness of this. RON.

Please post your results and the compared accuracy. This is the method I had read about here, and Bignortherner explained the U tube method in another thread last night.