My dad had his titration--? about low AHI and bad O2 levels

My dad had his titration Friday night and knows nothing much. He used a nasal mask but kept losing air out of his mouth so he ended up with a FF mask. He said his AHI was only 5.6 but that his average O2 was 85% with drops into the 50's when he had events. Apparently with a low ahi he had major drops. He used to be a smoker but hasn't smoked in 6 years almost. He has no known issues like asthma or COPD. He doesn't know his pressure yet or anything else about the diagnostic PSG.

I just found it weird bc my REM AHI was 33.5 and my lowest desat was 76% with an average in the low 90s.

Just interesting how he had so few events but such a low desat, in the 50s.

Trying to compare his results with yours is like comparing Apples and Oranges, His Apnea events could have lasted longer than yours, the testing could have been different (Equiptment). I don't think someone having a study three times a week would have the same results long enough two different people.

When they did mine they had to search through three sets of leads to get one that would work, and the place I had mine done was only 8 month old. Jim

I think that a couple of things (at least) could account for the drops in O2.......the length of apnea duration and shallow breathing. Either one could limit the amount of oxygen getting into the blood stream.

Den

I'm new to this, but isn't it possible that they were using regular CPAP and went to a high enough pressure that he had trouble exhaling? You won't know until you get the report, but it might be a possibility. Do you know if they tried BiPAP? That's usually the solution when high pressures are required.

Wulfman wrote:I think that a couple of things (at least) could account for the drops in O2.......the length of apnea duration and shallow breathing. Either one could limit the amount of oxygen getting into the blood stream.

Den

makes sense, he did not know how long the apneas were so that is possible.

I didn't clarify, this ahi and o2 levels were from his diagnostic psg.

Interesting.....I was titrated at 7. They called this the "Effective Pressure".
I am only guessing here since I did not talk to the sleep doc at all about the study
but I suspect that this "Efective Pressure" is the minimum pressure required to keep
02 sat above 90 for the whole night which it did as shown in the report IRREGARDLESS
(is that a word ? LOL) of what the AHI is. I get my best AHI (under 1) at cpap of 10.
I'm thinking out loud here but it seems like the best 02 sat level is the best target to
shoot for rather than AHI whatever the pressure may be.

Kind of makes me want to get hooked up to an 02 sensor now all night.



Luke