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CPAP Mask
CPAP mask fitting is an essential element of a sleep apnea patient's success with positive airway pressure therapy because it affects compliance, treatment efficacy, and possible side effects. The demands on CPAP mask stability increase as pressure increases. Higher pressures often result in air leak and patient discomfort, and certain masks will not perform as well as others.
Most CPAP accessories require tighter CPAP headgear at higher pressures, and tightening may cause pressure sores. Some CPAP accessories have become very popular among clinicians and patients because of their stability and comfortable design, which performs well without tight CPAP headgear, even at high pressures.
Titration and CPAP Mask Fitting
Titration and CPAP mask fitting will greatly affect the patient's comfort. Higher pressures will more likely cause noise disturbances or nasal irritation. These CPAP side effects can be minimized with an appropriate CPAP mask and headgear as well as heated humidification. For patients who do not tolerate CPAP well, bi-level therapy or AutoSet therapy may be the answer.
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Technology
CPAP devices are used generally by patients at home for the treatment of sleep apnea. In sleep apnea, the patient's airway becomes restricted as their muscles relax naturally while sleep. This phenomenon causes sudden wake ups and heavy gasps. The CPAP machine is designed to stop this phenomenon by providing constant stream of compressed hot air through a facial CPAP mask and hose, keeping all airways open under air pressure, which enables unobstructed breathing and also prevents obstructive sleep apnea.
How it works?
The CPAP machine blows air at a set pressure. This set pressure is usually programmed into the CPAP machine by a sleep technician during an overnight study in a sleep laboratory. Most apneas were prevented as a result of this supply of air pressure, which is usually measured in centimeters of water cm/H20. CPAP treatment is highly effective in treating obstructive sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea patients are often reluctant to use the CPAP treatment since it involves putting a CPAP mask on the face along with the hose connected to the CPAP machine, which is quite uncomfortable and clumsy. For some apnea patients it takes a few weeks to adjust to the CPAP treatment while for others it can take a bit longer. In most CPAP devices air humidifiers can be easily added to the patient's breathing circuit. The CPAP treatment can affect the sleep quality after just a single night's use.
The modern CPAP machine is much smaller and lighter than the old ones. Additionally, the latest models of the CPAP machine are much less noisy than older versions. The most popular CPAP machine for home use is the auto-titrating CPAP, also known as the AutoPAP (APAP). This type of machine uses a pressure sensor to enable the CPAP machine to alter the CPAP pressure on a breath by breath basis by measuring the resistance of the user's breathing. By this, the patients get exactly the pressure they need at a given moment and avoid the compromise of a fixed pressure CPAP.
AutoSet Technology
The amount of pressure required for effective CPAP therapy varies according to the sleep stage, sleeping position, and other factors. Insufficient pressure results in ineffective therapy, while too much pressure can lead to discomfort, non-compliance and pressure-related side effects.
The S8 AutoSet Vantage is an automatic titration system for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. This AutoSet device adjusts pressure on a breath-by-breath basis to suit apnea patient needs as they vary throughout the night. As a result, the patient receives the minimum pressure required for effective therapy. The lower pressures may improve the patient's comfort, reduce pressure-related side effects and lead to increased patient compliance.
The AutoSet algorithm responds to three key respiratory parameters:
Inspiratory flow limitation
Snore
Apnea
In addition, AutoSet devices maintain pressure by compensating for mask leak.
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