Question about periodic breathing in my waveform ASV

This is the first time since being on ASV that I've seen periodic breathing in my readings. How ugly or non ugly does this look? I see a lot of similar looking readings in my reports that aren't characterized as PB so i am wondering if this is an accurate reading.

Very NON ugly.

By definition PB ...this from the Respironics manual
"Periodic Breathing is a Respironics data feature defined as a persistent waning and waxing breathing pattrn which repeats itself between 30 and 100 seconds. The nadir of the breathing pattern is characterized by at least a 40% reduction in airflow from an established baseline flow. The pattern must be present for several minutes before it can be identified as periodic breathing. No therapy adjustments are made in response to periodic breathing."

So a couple of requirements...duration and at least a 40% reduction. Perhaps the other times where you see something that looks similar the reduction wasn't 40% or maybe the duration wasn't enough.

Thanks for chiming in pugsy.

the last three nights have all shown some PB. .4%, .6%, and .7% respectively. I know those are low numbers but i still wonder why it's suddenly happening.

Hi icypher

The periodic breathing episode is interesting but not significant enough for your ASV machine o kick in and treat. You only have one instance of an hypopnea and it kicked in for one breath. Not too exciting.

Things only get interesting when it turns on and breathes for you for a while, say 20 minutes or more. Even then, remember that is what you have this particular type of machine for. Mine kicked in and ran for an hour and about 20 minutes while I just continued a nice sleep -just what I wanted, interesting but not alarming. Before I got this same machine, I had a couple instances of centrals that lasted for more than one minute (one was for 80 seconds) - that is a litle alarming

JDS74 wrote:Hi icypher

The periodic breathing episode is interesting but not significant enough for your ASV machine o kick in and treat. You only have one instance of an hypopnea and it kicked in for one breath. Not too exciting.

Things only get interesting when it turns on and breathes for you for a while, say 20 minutes or more. Even then, remember that is what you have this particular type of machine for. Mine kicked in and ran for an hour and about 20 minutes while I just continued a nice sleep -just what I wanted, interesting but not alarming. Before I got this same machine, I had a couple instances of centrals that lasted for more than one minute (one was for 80 seconds) - that is a litle alarming

Yes I would say a night as described would be quite interesting. I'd also say it's quite a blessing that we have this ASV technology available.

add a Vt line to your study and see if maybe it is just reduced tidal volume...maybe your patient would more appropriately need AVAPS