bi-level ST and the AVAPS machines

[robysue]

Peter_C does BIPAP change pressure with every breath if it needs to? I ask because a tech told me that the BIPAP they used in my titration did that. I don't mean start an inhale.

A System One BiPAP Pro (model 660) has two fixed pressures: the IPAP and the EPAP. The pressure changes from IPAP to EPAP on every inhalation to exhalation transition. The pressure changes from EPAP to IPAP on every exhalation to inhalation transition.

A System One BiPAP Auto (model 760) has an auto algorithm that allows both the EPAP and the IPAP to change throughout the night in response to flow limitations, snoring, RERAs, Hs, and OAs. Exactly how those two pressures are allowed to vary during the night depends on the following settings:

• min EPAP
  max IPAP
  min PS
  max PS

In general, the actual EPAP and IPAP on any given breath cycle will satisfy:

• min EPAP <= EPAP <= max IPAP - min PS
  min EPAP + min PS <= IPAP <= max IPAP
  min PS <= IPAP - EPAP <= max PS

And on every breath cycle, the IPAP is used for the inhalations and the EPAP is used for the exhalations.


And yes, a System One BiPAP Auto can be quite useful in managing aerophagia problems in some patients. The switch to a System One BiPAP Auto running is a very, very tight Auto range is what finally brought my aerophagia issues under control.