01-22-2018, 10:52 PM
RE: Discussions of Respiratory Ventilation
If you're not using supplemental oxygen, a good oxygen saturation throughout a night of sleep is a pretty good indicator, even if indirect, of adequate ventilation. Both ResMed and Philips Respironics allude to oxygen saturation > 90% all night as being a good indication of adequate ventilation.
If someone was suffering from hypoventilation, you would most likely see sustained desaturations on a pulse oximeter recording (assuming they weren't explained by events like obstructive apneas and/or hypopneas).
You can easily test the utility of a pulse oximeter recording by starting a bi-level machine at low settings of say 8/4. Then record each night and increase the pressure support and watch as your oxygen saturation improves, along with your tidal volume and minute ventilation.
If you are a respiratory patient you should still obviously get your CO2 levels checked on a scheduled basis, but that isn't going to be feasible in the home setting.
If someone was suffering from hypoventilation, you would most likely see sustained desaturations on a pulse oximeter recording (assuming they weren't explained by events like obstructive apneas and/or hypopneas).
You can easily test the utility of a pulse oximeter recording by starting a bi-level machine at low settings of say 8/4. Then record each night and increase the pressure support and watch as your oxygen saturation improves, along with your tidal volume and minute ventilation.
If you are a respiratory patient you should still obviously get your CO2 levels checked on a scheduled basis, but that isn't going to be feasible in the home setting.