Non-Rebreathing Valve

Can someone give me info on the non-rebreathing valve (I'm using FlexiFit 432 ff). What is its purpose and why is it part of mask (between elbow and hose connection)?

Alisha,
In the event the power goes off, and your machine goes off with it, you'd be stuck re-breathing the CO2 you were exhaling into the full face mask (definitely NOT a healthy thing). So the nonrebreathing valve opens when the CPAP is off but your mask is on, to make sure you don't rebreathe your CO2.

Hope that helps.

College Girl, the reason I asked: Last night I wore a larger size 432 I had received yesterday. I felt air coming from this vent and it was pretty noisy. If I had gotten up and tried to get the problem solved I knew I'd be up the rest of the night, so I managed to sleep with the extra air and noise.

This morning I switched the vent from the smaller 432, tested it, and the vent air and noise were eliminated with the switch.

Was it ok to sleep with the valve open? Also, how would I get it to close if I needed to use it...or is it just a defective valve? It was already attached to the elbow when I received it and I did nothing that would have caused it to open.

I hope these questions aren't TOO dumb. I'm a complete nincompoop when it comes to gadgets (even cpap masks).

Hi ,

If the valve is open during your therapy, then you aren't getting the correct therapy. Your machine would have trouble maintaining the proper treatment pressure.

The valve should close once therapy starts, and open when the pressure stops from the cpap. Generally they close at 2 to 4 cm of pressure for most FF masks.

Sounds like a defective valve.

Thanks, ThunderSnorem. If a non-rebreathing valve stays open in the future, I'll know I have to do something (maybe switch masks) to get the treatment I need. I was afraid the valve might be defective.

Without this forum, cpap treatment can be very difficult.