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Pulse Oximetry
More and more of us are buying pulse oximeters, despite the fact that the majority of the sleep clinics in the UK seem to want to keep their patients in blissful ignorance of their actual sleep patterns.
However those of us who want to learn more about their sleep patterns face the problem that we are not trained in how to interpret the results given by these oximeters. My understanding from research data is that the results from pulse oximeters correlate very closely with full polysomnography. If that is right, oximeter users should be able to use their results to indicate accurately whether the pressure they are using is properly controlling their OSA.
To start this discussion I would like to pose the following questions, which are based on my own oximeter (CMS50F). Obviously there may be some other machines which give more, or better, information. If so, details here would greatly assist other users and potential users.
1. What is Basal SpO2(%) and is it significant?
2. My oximeter is pre-set with a "Desaturation Criteria Level" of 88%. What is the significance of this figure, and should I alter it up or down?
3.How low should the "Average low Sp02 %" be, before it is considered abnormal?
4. Is the "Average low Sp02 % < 88%" more, or less, important than the overall average?
5. My oximeter results show %Sp02 levels, and number of events, in bands of 5 i.e. 99-95, 94 - 90 and so on , with the number of events in each band. Should we be aiming not to go below 90 at all, or is the threshold level lower?
6. Is the time in each band significant, and if so what should we look for to show good OSA control?
7. Which overnight pulse levels are considered abnormal?
8. Can the oximeter results be converted into AHIs and if so how?
My apologies for setting out formal questions in this way, but I hope that Rock, and other members, will be able to give expert guidance on these points and others, to assist us all.
We would all benefit if we could understand :
a) the default settings to use
b) which readings indicate good OSA control
c) which readings are considered abnormal / undesirable
Views: 7341
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Joe barnes on
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Yes thanks for that I understand what you are saying.
As stated on my first post I am obviously getting benefit from using the a/pap
What I don't understand is why I still get apnea's.
Surely the a/pap is suppost to correct apnea's
do they still accure when having mask leaks, or can't the a/pap react quick enough.
I can understand if i had a c/pap and it was set at the wrong pressure but surely the idea of the a/pap is that it adjusts to the correct pressure.
What am I missing?
Joe
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Permalink Reply by Tigers Fan on
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Not fast enough may be the reason or just that the machine cannot detect an apnoea unless an apnoea has taken place - or at least started. Maybe you and I have 'quick onset' apnoeas. All I know is that APAP didn't work well for me when Pmin was set 'too low' - meaning when it was low enough to permit apnoeas to get started. By increasing Pmin I got to a point where most/nearly all apnoeas were prevented - my Pmin got so high that I changed to CPAP and have never looked back. Hopefully, you will find an optimum Pmin low enough to keep APAP viable.
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Yes thanks.
I went back to the hospital 18 months ago as still feeling tired and they had set it at 4 min
the said when they did the polygraph that by the time it caught the apnea it was too late (just what you are saying)
so they set it to start at 7.
So I understand exactly where you are coming from.
Joe
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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on
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Yes, I had the same experience too and had to raise my Pmin. Now I'm back to the drawing board testing and tweaking since my nose operation. It's a long drawn-out process (Joe) but worth it in the end.
Tigers Fan said:
Not fast enough may be the reason or just that the machine cannot detect an apnoea unless an apnoea has taken place - or at least started. Maybe you and I have 'quick onset' apnoeas. All I know is that APAP didn't work well for me when Pmin was set 'too low' - meaning when it was low enough to permit apnoeas to get started. By increasing Pmin I got to a point where most/nearly all apnoeas were prevented - my Pmin got so high that I changed to CPAP and have never looked back. Hopefully, you will find an optimum Pmin low enough to keep APAP viable.
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