BiPAP?

I have a friend who is getting started with CPAP. His pressure was titrated at 18 but he still had a very high AHI at that. He has been using a M Series with A Flex. In looking at his charts, he needs to go above 20. I don't believe that machine goes above 20. Does that then qualify him for a BiPAP? I believe those machines can go over 20.

BeanMeScot wrote:I have a friend who is getting started with CPAP. His pressure was titrated at 18 but he still had a very high AHI at that.

I don't know exactly how A-Flex works, and I'm no clinician, but that seems a crazy-high pressure for a CPAP, especially with someone just starting out. I'd bet that with a lower exhalation pressure (with a BiPAP), he'd see a drop in his AHI.

But lots of folks on this list know way more than I do about it, and I'm sure they'll post something soon.

Hope your friend sticks with it!

nath

He has REALLY bad numbers. Pre CPAP he had an AHI of 93.1 AFTER surgery to clean out his throat. He said it was a lot worse before the surgery. During his Titration he destated to 70% on 18cm.

BeanMeScot wrote:He has REALLY bad numbers. Pre CPAP he had an AHI of 93.1 AFTER surgery to clean out his throat. He said it was a lot worse before the surgery. During his Titration he destated to 70% on 18cm.

Yipes! That is bad! It's a good thing you posted something here; someone will have something more intelligent to say than I do.

nath

He just bought a M Series with A Flex but it only goes to 20. He has Encore Pro and when you look at the chart, he hits 20 at least 3 times a night. So he needs to be able to go above that but the machine can't. He bought it out of his pocket because he won't get new insurance until next year. With those numbers, he can't go without a machine that long and he can't afford to get a BiPAP even if his doctor would now prescribe it for him. He borrowed the money from his father to get the A Flex and he hasn't even gotten it yet. It should come in on Thurs but it seems it is already not going to be enough.

Yes BiPap's do go up further than 20... and yes I would hope anyways that it would qualify him for a BiPap.

In a lot of cases a switch to BiPap and the insurance will pay for it as it's a difference code than a CPAP/APAP. It's worth checking on at least.