[Treatment] What can help improve inspiratory flow shape?

[rfburns]

So I've just stumbled across this in the OSCAR wiki:



And this has let me have a closer look at my data. I have pretty sinusoidal breathing until I drift off to sleep, in which case, my flow shape begins to look like the Class 6 shown above and stays that way. I have seen a Class 2 shape on occassion, also. I don't quite understand the interpretation of "marked tracheal traction support during lung inflation."

What can I do to improve my inspiratory flow shape?

I was thinking about purchasing a refurb AutoSet and using that instead of my Elite - can an AutoSet respond to flow limitations proactively rather than reactively, thereby causing an improvement in the flow shape?

[ICEMAN]

rfburns, sorry I cant help you out, but I do thank you for that post, to my attention re "inspiratory flow shape" as that has build some knowledge, inform me, to read flow, compare against my own, flow shape, which to me at least also look to Flow Class 1 mostly, except coming on event's actual occur.

[Sleeprider]

Class 6 in that figure can easily be misinterpreted because all of that flow must be above zero and not include the normal zero or low flow at the end of expiration. Where this occurs, it is easy to see how pressure support would mitigate the lower flow early in inspiration.

[rfburns]

Could you elaborate a little bit? I'm not sure I understand fully.

Here's what a typical flow graph looks like for me.

   

[kappa]

It helps if you include dotted line for zero (right click on the "Flow Rate" graph title). Then it's clearer which part is inspiration. In this case there doesn't appear to be any flat zone in the inspiration phase. The pause between breaths (flat zone that often occurs after exhalation) is below the zero line which suggests there may be some leaks occuring.