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Permalink Reply by BPLink on April 17, 2009 at 2:03pm

I've have to add that my pressure ranges from 20 I to 14 E, I have a few Hyponeas and OA's (and all the rest) each night. My average AHI is the 2-3 range although I've gone as high as 6 and as low as 0.5

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Permalink Reply by Judy on April 17, 2009 at 2:17pm

Well, I'm not well-versed w/the Respironics BiPAPs but I can say that as long as your AHI is below 5.0 you are doing pretty darn good data-wise. HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

As far as your Leak rate: I believe the Respironics report the Leak rate in L/M (litres per minute) and all the mask literature tables list the allowed vent rate in L/M - so - get out your literature that came w/the Quattro and look for the table. It will have the L/M allowed vent rate up the left side and various graduated pressure settings along the bottom and a line curving up thru the table from left to right. Find your IPAP setting and look up at the curved line to see what allowed vent rate level it coincides with.

That would be your acceptable Leak rate. Then look at your BiPAP's reported Leak rate, subtract your allowed vent rate from the reported Leak rate and you have your true Leak rate.

Hopefully a Respironics user or one of our gracious RRTs can better explain this to you.

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Permalink Reply by BPLink on April 17, 2009 at 2:35pm

Hi Judy,

I never got any literature from my DME when I get my new masks every three months, the masks come in a bag, LOL I HOPE they are new.

Anyway, I wanted to know if the actual good leak numbers were 39.0 (which I get but rarely) or .39 (which I never get) for the Quattro as I have seen both listed (in different places) as being good leak rates.

I usually wake up feeling exhausted.

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Permalink Reply by Judy on April 17, 2009 at 3:00pm

A good question that I can't answer. I "think" the 39.0 indicates L/s (litres per second) and the .39 indicates L/M (litres per minute) but I sure wouldn't wanna put any of my hard earned money on that!

I dug out my Quattro's literature: (the chart is so darn small you almost need a magnifying glass!) It looks like:

14 cms pressure = allowed vent rate of 44
16 cms pressure = allowed vent rate of 48
18 cms pressure = allowed vent rate of 52
20 cms pressure = allowed vent rate of 54

Then I "think" w/these bi-levels you use the REPORTED pressure to determine your allowed vent rate.

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Permalink Reply by Butch Hernandez on April 18, 2009 at 12:01am

Given your mask type, pressures and AHI, I'd say you've got pretty good mask seal integrity! If you notice an increase in AHI with a proportionate increase in mean (average) leak values, then your mask is likely fit improperly or it's just plain getting old! Skin oils and whatnot will soak into the cushion eventually and it become somewhat more rigid. This will make leaks much more likely to occur. Reason #1 to get a new cushion/mask as often as your insurance will allow.
Sounds like your doing great tho!

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Permalink Reply by BPLink on April 18, 2009 at 4:08pm

The information helps a great deal.

Thank you all that answered.

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