EVIDENCE OF AIRFIT P10 VENT OBSTRUCTION CAUSING HYPERCAPNIA

[backdoc]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and going through the process of vetting your idea. I recently had a nightmare and woke up with symptoms similar to what you described. When I tried to go back to sleep, I noticed I was breathing rapidly and heavily, which felt abnormal. I realized my AirFit P10 vents were blocked, causing me to experience rainout for the first time despite using a heated hose and sleeping with the AC on year-round. I switched to a different P10 and fell asleep quickly. This morning, I searched for ways to increase P10 venting and found your post, which was very enlightening. I've been having recurring nightmares accompanied by rapid breathing and began to connect the dots. I'm wondering if blocked vents can lead to hyper condensation and rainout, as I'd never experienced moisture in the heated hose or P10 before.

"I've thoroughly cleaned my mask vents using a Waterpik and left them to dry for the day, hoping this resolves the issue. After cleaning, I was able to successfully verify airflow through the vents.

Thank you again for your diligence in investigating this matter and identifying the root cause as a design flaw, likely due to insufficient beta testing. Additionally, I've been experiencing intermittent cardiac rhythm issues, which I plan to discuss with my cardiologist to determine if they may be related to hypercapnia. Since I have multiple machines and masks across three different locations, I'll investigate whether the tachycardia and bradycardia events coincide with the older masks."



Haven't returned to this thread for years:

While you might be right, I am dubious that the air blower will be more effective than the waterpik approach.  I had tried any number of methods in the past including a narrowly directed stream of air from a 100 psi air compressor.  I found the waterpik to be the most practical and effective.  According to the waterpik companies their maximum pressure is 100 psi (I even saw one with 125 psi), and I think this would be much more forceful than a stream of air because the force from the mass and velocity of the stream of water would be much more effective in dislodging solid particles. 

In my view the real proof is having the ability to visually examine the interstices of the mesh to verify the state of cleanliness.

Just my 2 cents.

[Alfons]

This is exactly the information I was looking for.
I do have a question.
I am using the Airfit P10 and had a leak rate of zero not realizing the vents were plugged when I replaced the mask with a new one my leak rate jumped to 10.8 L/Min I am assuming because of the passive venting of the mask.
I noticed in the Oscar Data you poster that your leak rate looked to be zero most of the time.
Should the passive venting show up an a steady leak is my question?
   

[Sheepish]

Someone may correct me if I am mistaken, but I do not believe that the passive venting should show up as a leak of any significance.

[Alfons]

Thanks for responding.
I have been trying to find out that info about passive venting showing up as steady mask leak for a while.
If anyone has any information that would be great if I switch back to older mask body leak goes back to zero but vents seem plugged on old masks and haven't had much luck getting them cleaned out.
I tried a second new mask and it to showed a consistent leak in the same range of 10 L/Min and mask is sealed to my nose great no leak there.
The only other difference in the old mask to the new ones is the tubing is quite a bit shorter on the new masks but I doubt that would do anything.

[LFogg]

Let me offer another cleaning method for P10 vent meshes. With a warning to follow. I've had good luck soaking the vent mesh in vinegar for a couple of hours. Then scrubbing with a toothbrush while rinsing in hot water. The attached microphotographs show clearly the lint/dust in the dirty mesh. A hot soapy water soak and a brushing helped some, but the vinegar soak did a fantastic job.

The warning is that vinegar is a mild acid and could affect the plastic over time. (I'm sure the manufacturer would not recommend this.) But if you have an old mask that is unusable due to clogging, you might give this a try.

[backdoc]

Let me offer another cleaning method for P10 vent meshes. With a warning to follow. I've had good luck soaking the vent mesh in vinegar for a couple of hours. Then scrubbing with a toothbrush while rinsing in hot water. The attached microphotographs show clearly the lint/dust in the dirty mesh. A hot soapy water soak and a brushing helped some, but the vinegar soak did a fantastic job.

The warning is that vinegar is a mild acid and could affect the plastic over time. (I'm sure the manufacturer would not recommend this.) But if you have an old mask that is unusable due to clogging, you might give this a try.

This is a great post, I will try it with 2 masks that are clogged.

[InTheShadows]

I’m new here and new to sleep apnea therapy so I started with the nova micro nasal pillow but was causing my pain and discomfort and was looking for a new mask and about 80-90% of people recommended (for nasal pillow) the Resmed p10 and online reviews say it’s very comfortable…but I came across this issue and it makes me wonder. I’m switching my mask and wanted to try the nasal cradle from the Resmed n20 but I think the port for the exhalation is the same as the p10…is this going to cause the same issue possibly?

[backdoc]

I tried the fix using vinegar and it didn't work well enough to be able to continue to use the mask.

If you keep your masks for a long time and replace parts to keep it going I'd choose another one.

Steve

[lessgroggy]

It seems to me that one way of getting around this issue is to use the AirMini version of P10 mask, which vents entirely differently with what I believe are larger vent holes, and to use an adapter of some sort to connect it with the hose of a standard machine. I'm in the process of trying to figure that out myself so that I can use the Humid-X cartridges during travel when procuring distilled water may be too time-consuming or difficult. I have not actually got the P10 AirMini version in hand yet to see how well this might or might not work out, nor have I ever tried the regular P10 to be able to compare it, but hope to be able to confirm how feasible this is in a few weeks.

[backdoc]

It seems to me that one way of getting around this issue is to use the AirMini version of P10 mask, which vents entirely differently with what I believe are larger vent holes, and to use an adapter of some sort to connect it with the hose of a standard machine. I'm in the process of trying to figure that out myself so that I can use the Humid-X cartridges during travel when procuring distilled water may be too time-consuming or difficult. I have not actually got the P10 AirMini version in hand yet to see how well this might or might not work out, nor have I ever tried the regular P10 to be able to compare it, but hope to be able to confirm how feasible this is in a few weeks.

I moved to Lisbon and on Amazon Spain found a 3rd party replacement for the P10 frame/vents that has worked great for me. I haven't had the vents blocked yet. Maybe there is a 3rd party option in the US? I have several old nasal pillows that I can buy these frames for. I did notice that the elastic isn't as sturdy and forgiving when removed and machine washed however, they kind of looked like old underwear elastic from the first wash. That didn't happen with the original elastic. I'm just glad I don't have to buy a whole new unit yet.