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Flow curve shape - what does it say?
#1
Flow curve shape - what does it say?
I was reading about flow shapes and was curious about mine. It seems unusual with a rise, plateau and then another rise. Anything I can learn from this?


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#2
RE: Flow curve shape - what does it say?
Looks like expiratory mouth breathing, maybe with a bit of snoring. See the attached…
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#3
RE: Flow curve shape - what does it say?
Thanks for the helpful chart! I was actually thinking mouth breathing so I tried mouth taping. To compare, here's the flow curve with mouth taping. It looks very similar to me...?


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#4
RE: Flow curve shape - what does it say?
It does look the same to me as well.

Hopefully someone more experienced will jump in with some thoughts.
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#5
RE: Flow curve shape - what does it say?
Can you include the flow limit chart with the zoomed in view? Looks like flow limited breathing to me.
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#6
RE: Flow curve shape - what does it say?
I have some flow limitations but most of the time it's non-existent. Here's a zoomed out view with a mix of both. 95% flow limit last night was .08 which seems to be low/normal?


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#7
RE: Flow curve shape - what does it say?
Keep in mind that the flow-limit chart is not as sensitive as the flowrate chart, and, in the pictures you shared, I observe several flattened and multi-peaked peaks in the waveforms. Theyre not perfect, by any means. 

Some of them also look like the class 6 in pic attached, from the following study, which characterizes them as "marked tracheal traction during lung inflation": https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4688581/


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#8
RE: Flow curve shape - what does it say?
Thanks for the reply! This is good information - I’ll admit I don’t really understand how to address the flow limitation. Any resources or suggested actions would be much appreciated!
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#9
RE: Flow curve shape - what does it say?
Once obstructions are resolved, flow limit is best treated through increasing pressure differential, which is IPAP - EPAP or EPR, etc. It can also be resolved by increasing pressure.
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#10
RE: Flow curve shape - what does it say?
Got it thanks! I have my EPR set to 3. Meeting with my sleep doc tomorrow and I have some good questions to ask. Thanks all!
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