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Permalink Reply by Caroline on February 16, 2011 at 1:11am

Yes, I was referred to a specialist and set up with a 'non-ventilated' mask. Really just a mask with special attachments to allow a portion of the incoming air to be rebreathed. This increases the percentage of CO2 inhaled, which can counter/reset the brain's overbreathing in central apnea. I have yet to have a followup sleep study, but I am having the first comfortable nights on CPAP in a decade.

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Permalink Reply by Donna Medin on February 16, 2011 at 8:11am

Thanks Caroline.  That's very good news!!!  I'm glad they could help you.

 

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on February 16, 2011 at 10:34pm

The rebreather units are fascinating! I have been spending quite a bit of my time studying the titration of deadspace. Most of these units are made by techs. I am waiting for lab approval to make my first.

 

http://www.binarysleep.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=9081&highligh...

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Permalink Reply by Caroline on February 17, 2011 at 1:09am

Actually the unvented attachments are commercially available. I obtain mine with my masks at a standard CPAP supplier. My sleep clinic doc supplied a script so it is covered by health insurance. Like masks, the pieces need regular replacement.

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Permalink Reply by RL on February 17, 2011 at 8:55pm

Here is a link to an older SleepGuide thread related to Central Apnea and Complex Apnea.

 

http://www.sleepguide.com/forum/topics/asv-centrals?commentId=25490...

There are others, but this one might give some interesting reading.

 

also:    http://www.sleepguide.com/forum/topics/any-one-with-central-or?comm... 

Donna - were you diagnosed with central or complex apnea?

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Permalink Reply by Neal Buckner, LRCP on February 18, 2011 at 4:17pm

An ASV machine would be my first choice before messing around with rebreather masks. An ASV will calculate the minute ventilation (MV) that is right for the user and make breath by breath adjustments to hit the desired MV. Minute ventilation is the best controller of CO2 elimination/retention. Yes, the machine retails for $8K. But I've seen it change a persons life dramatically. In one recent case it saved one of my patients life. He had been on dementia meds for almost 2 years and was on his way to an adult care facility until I saw him. He literally came off all his meds and scored 29/30 on the mini mental status test administered by his PCP the day after starting on his ASV. 

 

It is very important that a person knows what their pulmonary situation is before trying a CO2 rebreather. Advanced stages of COPD changes the way our brain regulates breathing. In normal folks CO2 is the chemical the central chemo-receptor measures. In advanced COPD the trigger goes to the peripheral chemo-receptor and measures oxygen. Just and FYI.

 

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