What constitutes a need for VPAP vs CPAP/APAP therapy?

Can someone briefly explain what situation usually exists that indicates a need for VPAP therapy?

What exactly do you mean by VPAP? I have an S8 series VPAP Auto 25 which does CPAP, BiLevel, and AUTO.
I believe VPAP is more af a trade name than anything else. If you are talking about an ST Machine- they provide backup timed respirations, and an ASV a new animal that is used in central apnea and cheyne stokes respirations.

Mary Z wrote:What exactly do you mean by VPAP? I have an S8 series VPAP Auto 25 which does CPAP, BiLevel, and AUTO.
I believe VPAP is more af a trade name than anything else. If you are talking about an ST Machine- they provide backup timed respirations, and an ASV a new animal that is used in central apnea and cheyne stokes respirations.

Sorry for the confusing question. I have a VPAP S for a backup and have never used it. I guess it's the bilevel feature I'm asking about. Why the need for fixed inspiration/expiration pressures?

Can't speak for others, but the decision to have me try bi-level was made based solely on my inability to cope with CPAP/APAP due to aerophagia and other issues for something like six or seven solid weeks of abject misery and three or four follow-up face-to-face meetings with the PA. And this was in spite of the fact that my original titrated pressure was only 9cm and the APAP clearly indicated that an APAP range of 4--8 or 5--8 should have been quite sufficient to treat the OSA. The idea in my case is that the lower EPAP helps with the aerophagia issues while the IPAP/EPAP together treat the apnea/hypopneas as well as straight CPAP/APAP does.

I believe other reasons may include severe problems exhaling against titrated pressure when people are titrated at levels approaching 20cm and also the need to have IPAP > 20.

I was switched to bi-level therapy based on "failure" of cpap/apap. I had been on cpap and then apap for over 4 months with no improvement of my daytime symptoms, and still had AHI much greater than 5. The doc switched me to bi-level based on that failure.

jbn3boys wrote:I was switched to bi-level therapy based on "failure" of cpap/apap. I had been on cpap and then apap for over 4 months with no improvement of my daytime symptoms, and still had AHI much greater than 5. The doc switched me to bi-level based on that failure.

jbn3boys, did you realize an improvement in your condition? Since I have the S8 VPAP S with the bi-level capability just sitting in my closet, the thought has crossed my mind to give it a try and see if I experience an improvement in the way I feel. Initially, I experienced a quite dramatic improvement (six months ago) but, although my AHI is running around 3.0, I don't feel as well as I did for awhile. My settings on the S9 Autoset are 7.6/11.0 with an average of around 9.0. What would be reasonable E/I settings if I do give the VPAP S a try?

And I am sure that that $2000 dog that isn't worth $0.02 thanks you every day, JohnnyBee. Unlike so many humans dogs remain grateful for life.

Slinky wrote:And I am sure that that $2000 dog that isn't worth $0.02 thanks you every day, JohnnyBee. Unlike so many humans dogs remain grateful for life.

Thanks.

I've been taking in strays for over 40 years now. Have a pet cemetery in the trees behind my home with 24 grave markers. Don't regret a penny I've spent on any of them.....they've been my most loyal friends. Somehow, I think they know when you've lent them a hand.

I'm down to three dogs and two cats now....getting old; don't want to leave any when I pass on.

The guy in the photo is my best buddy.

jonnybee wrote:

jbn3boys wrote:I was switched to bi-level therapy based on "failure" of cpap/apap. I had been on cpap and then apap for over 4 months with no improvement of my daytime symptoms, and still had AHI much greater than 5. The doc switched me to bi-level based on that failure.

jbn3boys, did you realize an improvement in your condition? Since I have the S8 VPAP S with the bi-level capability just sitting in my closet, the thought has crossed my mind to give it a try and see if I experience an improvement in the way I feel. Initially, I experienced a quite dramatic improvement (six months ago) but, although my AHI is running around 3.0, I don't feel as well as I did for awhile. My settings on the S9 Autoset are 7.6/11.0 with an average of around 9.0. What would be reasonable E/I settings if I do give the VPAP S a try?

I ended up having other "issues", so I'm really not a good one to ask. I bet if you changed the title of the thread to include BiPAP or BiLevel, you might get some more people looking at it who might be more able to help. Or start one that asks how to set your bilevel based on your S9 settings. Sorry I'm not more help.