Central Apnea

[Central544]

I am a relative newbie. I was diagnosed with mild OA a year ago, but noticed with my CPAP when we traveled to higher altitudes, I was have significant central apnea episodes (AHI went from 15 to over 40 with most as centrals) After much wrangling with my Doc and the DME, I was able to trade in my CPAP for the ResMed AirCurve 10 ASV. Oddly, the nightly report out I get from the machine screen does not report centrals, so I am flying blind. I have a couple of questions: does anyone else have experience with altitude-based central apnea? What software is the best for tracking this? And, I moved to a full face mask (AirFit F10) and am having a lot of trouble with small leaks that wake both my wife and I up continuously. Any suggestions? Thanks

[GP49]

My central apnea is not altitude-related but there is a prior thread:

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...ral-Apneas

[PaulaO2]

Can't advise on the machine but can with the mask.

Try another one. The Mirage Quattro or the Mirage Quattro FX are both good. So is the Simplus (which is what I use). If your supplier does not have a mask trial option (where you use a mask for a few weeks then get to give it back and try another), you can first try mask liners (you'll have to pay out of pocket for them but they're cheap enough). I can often get 3 nights out of one so a box can last 2-3 months.

If that doesn't work, then you'll have to try another mask and pay out of pocket or wait until your mask is due to be replaced. Then ask for another FFM. I would then suggest the Quattro FX or the Simplus.

[DeepBreathing]

My Resmed S9 VPAP Adapt ASV reports only "unclassified" apneas. I suspect your Aircurve is the same. This isn't a problem - it's just a silly way of reporting what's actually happening.

The ASV algorithm intervenes continuously to support your breathing so that central apneas and Cheyne-Stokes respiration are completely suppressed. Any apneas or hypopneas which do show up (the unclassified ones) are obstructive in nature, and will respond to an increase in EPAP pressure. There used to be a good description of this on the Resmed website but I can't find it at the moment.

For software, try ResScan (as per your other thread) or SleepyHead (link at the top of this page). SleepyHead is (IMHO) a much better program for self-management, whereas ResScan is really set up for a clinic situation. However SleepyHead doesn't fully report on the Aircurve ASV data, due to changes made by Resmed when they brought out the new machines, but I know the author (JediMark) is working on this.

[vsheline]

The ASV algorithm intervenes continuously to support your breathing so that central apneas and Cheyne-Stokes respiration are completely suppressed. Any apneas or hypopneas which do show up (the unclassified ones) are obstructive in nature, and will respond to an increase in EPAP pressure. There used to be a good description of this on the Resmed website but I can't find it at the moment.

To verify that a reported apnea is obstructive we can look at the Flow waveform.

The Flow waveform represents the estimated rate at which air is entering or exiting our lungs.

During an obstructive apnea the Flow will be zero, even though the ASV machine responds nearly immediately alternating between higher pressure (to gently force inhalation) and lower pressure (to gently force exhalation).

--- Vaughn

[trish6hundred]

Hi Central544,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
You might try another full-face mask, (FFM) to see if that workes better for you.
Hang in there for more responses to your post and much success to you with your CPAP therapy.