Can I use a Resmed AirCurve 10 as regular CPAP

I'm getting back on the CPAP bandwagon after 8 or so years. I had mask problems back then when the one I liked wore out and I couldn't find a replacement I liked so I did the honorable thing and just quit

I had a Resmed S8 with a pressure of around 11 if memory serves me.

I sold it a couple of years ago and recently goa deal on a AirCurve 10 VAuto which I thought would be a good replacement machine, more than I need but still useable. I went to the clinician to have it set up and to try a couple of new masks. She took a look at the machine and my prescription and said she can't set it up as my rx states Auto CPAP 5-18 H20. She also said the machine is no good for me as it's not a CPAP but a BiPAP.

I don't know anything about these but I thought the machine would work as a Auto CPAP if set up properly.

Do I need to sell it?

Thanks

Yes it can be used as a CPAP and set up to match your prescription. Your clinician is incorrect and unfamiliar with machines. I'll let someone else give you the proper settings,

Were you using EPR exhale relief with the old S8? If you were I need to know what it was set at to get you to exactly what you were using on the AutoSet

But it's easy to make the VAuto work like apap...just set PS to 0.
Minimum EPAP your 5 and max IPAP your 18 (or whatever you wish). That would be the equivalent of no exhale relief or EPR being used.
PS is what makes it a bilevel....if no PS then its a single pressure machine like the AutoSet at 5 to 18.

Now if you were using EPR...then we need to factor in whatever exhale relief you were experiencing.
Easy to do though.

So, the Vauto can be an Auto CPAP, varying the pressure to where I need it instead of having to have another sleep study to determine pressure.

Good to hear, it seemed kind of silly to make a machine as advanced as bi-level and not have it auto titrate.

Oh, I didn't have any exhale relief settings on the old machine and it didn't seem necessary but I suppose a bit of a drop couldn't hurt.

Using any exhale relief will create a bilevel situation.
Bilevel just means 2 distinct pressures...one for inhale (IPAP) and one for exhale (EPAP).
So people using the ResMed AutoSet with EPR at 2..that's a bilevel situation...exhale is 2 cm drop from inhale.

EPR is a reduction during exhale from inhale.
PS is added to exhale to get you the same settings when using the bilevel model.

Example...if you had used EPR of 1...then you would have seen a drop from that minimum of 5 to 4 ...so inhale is 5 and exhale is 4.
Using the bilevel model we set minimum EPAP to 4 and PS of 1 and that makes IPAP 5.

If you want to try a little drop during inhale and exhale...just play with PS and your 5 EPAP and see how it feels.
Main difference (besides a few little comfort tweaks) is that with EPR you are limited to 3 cm drop and with bilevel models and PS you aren't limited to 3 cm..and of course the bilevel models can go to 25.
I love PS of 4 on a bilevel machine. It makes things so easy and natural like breathing to me.
I can get almost the same feeling using EPR of 3 on the AutoSet. Not exactly the same but close enough to keep me happy.
I use 7 inhale and 4 exhale (EPR of 3) and really like it. It's one of those YMMV things though. Not everyone likes it.

It's pretty sad that your DME didn't know enough about the machine to tell you something that is relatively simple (how to make the bilevel function like the apap functioned). They should know their equipment better IMHO.

thanks for the info, I'll try and access the menu tomorrow and set things up.

any tips on how I can do this easily would be greatly appreciated!

so I input ...

VAuto (not plain CPAP)

Max IPAP at 18
Min EPAP at 5
PS at 3
TI Max was at 2.0s and I left at alone (not sure if I need it)
Ti Min was at 0.3s and I left it alone
Trigger was at Med
Cycle was at Med
Mask Full Face
Comfort .. don't know what that is
Ramp Time 20 min
Start Epap 4.0
Essentials was On
Leak Alert was Off
Date I set

Any modifications I should make??

PS of 3 on top of EPAP min of 5 will give you 8 inhale

When you were using the apap you had 5 inhale and if no EPR was used ...no drop during exhale.
So it may not feel the same or be quite as comfortable as the 5 inhale was.
Try it and see how it feels. It won't hurt you. If it seems a bit much you can reduce EPAP minimum to 4 and try that with 3 PS.

Go to essentials and change to PLUS. You will get a much more complete Sleep Report.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 01, 2019 9:04 am

PS of 3 on top of EPAP min of 5 will give you 8 inhale

When you were using the apap you had 5 inhale and if no EPR was used ...no drop during exhale.
So it may not feel the same or be quite as comfortable as the 5 inhale was.
Try it and see how it feels. It won't hurt you. If it seems a bit much you can reduce EPAP minimum to 4 and try that with 3 PS.

Not quite sure what exactly is PS ..... I never used an apap before, the old machine was an S8 cpap set at 11

Essentials now set to Plus ... thanks

PS is Pressure support or simply the difference between inhale and exhale

Examples
Exhale 6 and inhale 9....that is PS of 3
Exhale 5 and inhale 8...that is PS of 3
Exhale 4 and inhale 6...that is PS of 2
Exhale of 5 and inhale of 10...that is PS of 5

EPR use creates PS of either 1, 2 or 3 depending on the setting

since I wasn't used to any exhaust pressure relief I suppose any drop would be easier to tolerate, variable or not or even none .... if I'm getting the concept

Correct. If you weren't using EPR and don't need or want the PS you can use PS of 0 which means no difference between inhale and exhale and it will feel like the apap felt if you use EPAP min of 5.
PS or EPR in your situation....strictly a comfort choice.
But to answer the original question...super easy to make the VAuto mode mimic the apap mode...just set PS to 0 if you weren't using EPR.
If someone was using EPR...it can still be done but takes a bit of brain power to wrap their heads around which setting does what...but it can be done.

ok decision time .... if I leave it at 3 will I notice any negatives besides a 'difference' from last time?

I suppose this will be easier to tolerate and more mimics normal breathing ... which should be a good thing. I mean why not if it's capable of doing it?