Elaine

I am writing to enquire about a 75 yr old male who has been suffering with COPD for many years. He is on oxygen for as many hours as possible during the day and at night. He's already had surgery to increase the neck artury which has help a bit. Our concern at the present time is the build up of carbon dioxide in his body especially while sleeping. they think he is suffer from sleep apnea and could use a device to open his airway at night. I am unable to find any useful feed back regarding COPD, carbon dioxide build up and sleep apnea!

[Sunny602]

Hello Elaine...As far as sleep apnea goes, he should get a sleep study. During a sleep study, he will be monitored as far as his oxygen levels go, if he becomes apneic and for how long and how many incidents, his heart rhythm via a heart monitor, whether or not he is a "restless" sleeper, his brain waves are also monitored to see how deep his sleep is. Because CO2 retention is an issue, they will probably do ABG's (arterial blood gases) to see what that value is after sleep.
If he does have sleep apnea and CO2 retention, one of the treatments is BiPAP. I myself was a BiPAP user prior to being vented as my muscles were so weak as to not be able to breathe deeply enough nights was apneic and I did have CO2 build up as a result. You might have heard about devices such as CPAP and BiPAP. CPAP is continuous positive airway pressure and blows a prescribed, steady stream of air into a person to mostly keep the airway open. BiPAP has two pressures, the inspiratory which is a higher pressure that forces air in, and a second lower pressure that allows the user to exhale easier and helps blow off CO2 as well.

BiPAP would be used for people like the person you describe....a person who retains CO2, is apneic and has COPD. If you have anymore questions regarding BiPAP, just ask. I used the machine for almost two years until I was vented chronically (neuro problems..mainly my diaphragm quit). I hope that this helped you...Sunny