Sleep Apnea Treatment

Question by Brian Warren: ResMed S9 AutoSet vs. Respironics REMstar Auto (PLEASE help)?
I have moderate obstructive sleep disordered breathing with UARS and don’t know which machine would be better for me: the ResMed S9 AutoSet or the Respironics REMstar Auto.

Here is the data from my polysomnography:

- AHI = 4 events per hour
- Supine AHI = 3
- REM AHI = 6.6
- Obstructive apneas = 0
- Central apneas = 0
- Mixed apneas = 0
- Apnea Index = 0
- Central apnea index = 0
- Mixed apnea index = 0
- RDI = 26.5 events per hour
- Total respiratory arousals = 165
- Respiratory arousal index = 28.4
- Total RERAs = 131
- Rera = 22.6 per hour
- Arousal index = 49.9
- Arousals = 290
- Average duration of apnea/hypopnea events = 33.8 seconds
- Longest hypopnea = 54.9 seconds
- Less than 1% of sleep was spent in oxygen saturations less than 90%

Diagnosis: “Moderately severe obstructive sleep disordered breathing with evidence of upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) in a patient with snoring. There was exacerbation noted during REM stage sleep.”

I just did my CPAP titration study and don’t have the results yet. But the technician told me that the highest pressure used was 10.

Here is the issue: I was set on getting the ResMed S9 AutoSet because it seems to be in a league of its own with all the different features and the design. Unfortunately, it doesn’t detect RERA’s, and the Respironics REMstar Auto does.

Given my profile, which would be more important, the design and features of the ResMed S9 AutoSet or the ability to detect RERA’s with the Respironics REMstar Auto?

I’m concerned that since I have UARs with RERAs, if I get the S9 AutoSet and start having events, it wont be able to detect them and I will have no idea what’s going on in terms of duration and frequency when I look at the data reports.

Here is what the ResMed S9 AutoSet detects and reports:

- AHI
- Pressure
- Leak
- Central Apnea Index (CAI)

Here is what the Respironics REMstar Auto detects and reports:

- AHI
- FL (flow limitation)
- RERA
- snore
- leak
- CA (clear airway apnea)
- OA (obstructed airway apnea)
- HY (hypopnea)
- PB (periodic breathing)

I am totally new to all of this and have no idea if I’m over thinking this issue. However, if anybody can provide some insight as to which machine would be best for me I would greatly appreciate it. UARS has destroyed my life and I would really like to get it under control.

Thank you in advance for your advice.

Best answer:

Answer by Jynell T
My honest opinions coming from someone who’s been in the clinical department of a DME company for years…

Why get an auto!? You just did a titration study which detects what your optimal pressure setting is. The doctor is not going to now order an auto adjusting machine.

The UARS that you refer to are also hypopneas and MILLIONS of people have them, including my husband, and a standard CPAP treats them well. A hypopnea is a 50% or greater reduction in flow with vary amounts of oxygen desaturations. If the tech from the titration study feels 10cm is effective, it will treat your apnea.

Based on the data you gave, your AHI is 0. That means that you had NO obstructive or central apneas or hypopneas is more than 4% drop in oxygen. Because your RDI (respiratory disturbance index) is elevated, that tells me that you have hypopneas with less than 4% drop in oxygen. You also indicated that you spend a minute amount of time below an acceptable oxygen level, if at all.

If your insurance covers CPAP (as it might not because your AHI is 0 and some insurances don’t recognize RDI), a standard CPAP is what you’ll get from any DME company. My favorite (as well as the other clinicians in my entire company) are the ResMed machines. The Elite II is a great machine as well as the new S9. They will record compliance, leak, AHI… You honestly wont need all that other junk. The ResMed machines are user friendly and great for travel.

An AHI of 4 indicates that you technically wouldn’t have sleep apnea if the hypopneas with less than 3% desats weren’t counted. So if you don’t want to do CPAP, don’t stress about it. Have another sleep study in 5-6 years or with weight gain…

As for the simple answer… Res Med Elite II… If you are private paying for a machine, don’t waste your money buying a machine with features you don’t need (the auto adjusting mode) because you already paid someone to watch you and determine that stuff…

Does that help? Make sense??? Contact me if it doesn’t.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

request by Andreas FRUEHAUF : Respironics CPAP Masks: CPAP Masks Respironics are actually effectively get rid of sleep apnea? I suffer from sleep apnea for about two months. It is also difficult to sleep well. I even have a doctor should be consulted. He asked me, CPAP Masks Respironics are. He says he can help me to sleep too smooth. Some body used here Respironics CPAP mask? Can I get some criticism on the mask Respironics CPAP? best answer:

response Spunk
I’m very young but a few years ago I had a surgery in my neck that actually gave me a dream (I had corrective surgery later, 2 or 3 months). At the same time, I have a mask CPAP. It is effective. Will wake up at night, and suddenly sat up straight, gasping for air. When using mask CPAP, which never happened.

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