What is a flow limitation?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
GTOJim
Posts: 194
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2005 6:41 pm

What is a flow limitation?

Post by GTOJim » Wed Feb 23, 2005 3:11 pm

I have been using a Auto C-Flex with software for one week. Looking at last night’s results, the software shows several flow limitations. I hope someone can explain what a flow limitation means?

Thanks
Jim

_________________
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Settings: EPAP 13.6, Max IPAP 18.4, P.S 4

MelMel
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:08 am

Post by MelMel » Wed Feb 23, 2005 3:25 pm

Simply put... As your airway slowly starts to close off the cpap will sense resistance to the pressure it is trying to deliver. Usually flow limitation is the first sign of the beginning of an apnea. The job of the auto is to increase the pressure when it senses the flow limitation so that it will open the airway back up before it goes into a full apnea. I think the reaction of the auto to the flow limitation varies according to the type of machine you have.

MelMel

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UKnowWhatInSeattle
Posts: 148
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2004 7:20 pm
Location: Seattle, Merica, Earth...

Post by UKnowWhatInSeattle » Wed Feb 23, 2005 3:42 pm

Jim,
A couple of weeks ago, in a thread I started, SWS gave a terrific description of flow limitations and related things:

Hopefully the link below will take you there:

viewtopic.php?p=8560#8560