My Initial Night Using the New Resmed Swift LT

Last night was my initial night using the new Resmed Swift LT Nasal Interface and as promised I am giving you my impressions, good and bad.

I want to make sure that everyone understands that we are a distributor of Resmed products. However, I assure you this has not affected my product review as to fairness and accuracy.

I will begin with my first night of use observations and then repeat yesterday’s post for those who missed it:

I will begin my initial night of use review with what I believe should be changes to the Swift LT.

1. Although I use the mask with the short tubing hanging loose I realize that others might want to attach it to one of the side headgear straps. This is not possible with the Swift LT at this time as the only option is to run the hose up the middle of your face and snap it into the plastic retainer ring that connects to the headgear buckle. Resmed needs to include a Velcro strap that goes around the short tubing allowing a user to attach it to one of the headgear side straps. They currently have this for the Swift II so it would not add any cost to make this simple adjustment.
2. As with the Swift II the LT comes with small, medium and large pillows. I find this to be very foolish and a waste. I use a medium size pillow. I don’t care if the mask is by Puritan Bennett, Fisher & Paykel or Resmed. It is always a medium. I would guess 99% of us know what size pillow we use and I believe Resmed should do one of two things: either lower the price and include one size pillow per interface or include 2 of the same size pillows in each package so we would have an extra.

These are my only negatives at this time. My list of positives is significantly longer.

1. I find the use of a new “dual-wall nasal pillow” to be an improvement over the Swift II. I found this change basically allows the nasal pillow to “inflate” and make a very comfortable and snug seal, reducing leaks. It allows the headgear to be worn significantly looser than any other headgear I have worn. It was almost like the pillows were able to seal and hold on my face without any straps to hold it in place. The result being no strap marks on my face this morning.
2. The headgear attaches to the mask frame in a manner that allows you to adjust the angle of the pillows to the contour of your face. This resulted in the most comfortable fitting pillow system I have worn.
3. The mask is significantly quieter than the Swift II.
4. The width of the barrel is half of the Swift II. While sleeping on my side this reduced the pressure placed upon the mask frame resulting in a more comfortable mask and less leaks.
5. With the short tubing connecting in the center of the mask frame the Swift LT is very slide sleeper friendly. I tend to toss and turn for a few minutes prior to falling to sleep and with the Swift II I had to adjust the short tubing so it did not press against my face. May times I would have to remove the short tubing from one side of the barrel and plug it in to the other only to change it back a few minute later. That was not the case last night. The short tubing never became a factor making me uncomfortable.

I am sure that I will have other observations over the next few nights of use and will try to update you if I feel they are important. All and all I was very pleased with the Swift LT and do plan to continue using it in the coming night.

I was asked a couple questions in yesterday’s post that I will answer now.

1. Currently my pressure is 11 cm H20.
2. I wore the same size pillow with the Swift LT as I wore with the Swift II.

Yesterdays post was as follows:

The Swift LT has arrived and I had a few minute to work with it. I am going to do an initial review based upon my initial observation and then after I have a chance to sleep with it I will return with a more detailed review of the new Resmed Swift LT Nasal Interface.

1. Upon first examination of the Swift LT I was surprised by the packaging. It is not packaged in the same manner we have come to expect Resmed to package their mask. The nice case that the Swift II is packed in has been replaced by a drawn string pouch.
2. My initial thought from looking at the package, was, “this is a copy of the Fisher & Paykel Opus 360.” The nasal pillow that comes attached to the headgear is even protected the same way as the Opus 360.

I then excitedly open the packaging and begin to try on the unit, adjust the headgear and attach it to a CPAP for initial observations.

1. Immediately upon trying on the Swift LT I realize that this isn’t a copy of the Opus 360.
a. The nasal pillows fit me at a totally different angle that the Opus pillow fit me. The angle that the Opus fits into my nose was always a bit uncomfortable to me. The Swift LT felt great the minute it was adjusted to fit. As a matter of fact, I would say it is initially more comfortable than the Swift II.
b. The headgear is of the quality we have come to expect from Resmed. It is very similar to the Swift II headgear with the exception of the strap on the back of your head is adjustable with Velcro instead of a clip. I found it easier to adjust than the Swift II. I also found the entire headgear to be more comfortable that the Opus 360. One of my complaints about the Opus was that in the morning I woke up with strap marks on my face. I never had this with the Swift II and from the look and feel of the Swift LT I will assume that will be the case with this mask. Tomorrow I will know for sure.
2. I connected it up to a CPAP running at my prescribed pressure and I immediately notice the decrease in noise coming from the mask. Customers often ask me about how loud a CPAP is and I often tell them they should really be concerned with how loud the mask is instead. If I had a complaint about the Swift II it would be the amount of noise it makes. My wife has the same complaint. This was always one area where the Opus excelled over the Swift II. The Opus was significantly quieter than the Swift II. I can tell you from my initial experience that the Swift LT is quitter than either the Opus 360 or the Swift II, significantly quieter than the Swift II.
3. One thing I can tell you is that I will not be connecting the hose over the top of my head. I cannot stand wearing the Opus that way and will not even try the Swift LT that way. I like the hose hanging loose and it appears that I will not have any trouble using in this fashion.

great first review...I look forward to trying it.

Sounds like some very worthwhile improvements with the reduced barrel width and re-designed pillows. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for this to get into the DME supplier network...perhaps in time for my next exchange in 5-months?

Does it leave marks on your face?

Great review. Thanks for useful insights. I have a Swift II and loved it, but I begin to mouth breathe during the night and had to change. I was particularly interested in your comments about the double-walled pillows because I now am using a Liberty FF. As a Resmed distributor, do you know if they plan to offer that new type of pillows for the Liberty also?

Thanks for the review. This will be my 1st attemp at a pillow and the idea of putting something in my nose didn't sound good to me before I got mask marks & tender skin from nasal mask. Looking forward to trying this mask.

thankyou! mine arrives tomorrow .....will probably be modeling in the buff

Yep, got my order in and I'm looking forward to silencing the rush of air.

Kind of an expensive item, but if it delivers comfort and relative quiet, it will be worth it.

[quote="ezstreet"]Great review. Thanks for useful insights. I have a Swift II and loved it, but I begin to mouth breathe during the night and had to change. I was particularly interested in your comments about the double-walled pillows because I now am using a Liberty FF. As a Resmed distributor, do you know if they plan to offer that new type of pillows for the Liberty also?

.

Thanks heaps for the review. Lots of detail....great! I'm a relatively new CPAP user and started on the Swift II but changed to the Activa after a couple of weeks due to leaks from the Swift when moving around during the night. However, in a few months time I'd like to look at purchasing a second mask so I can swap around a little bit....I think the LT might be the way to go for this.

Great reply, thanks! I think that after my 3 month period is up, I am going to try this out vs. the Opus.

I like the Opus, but there are some flaws. The pillows do not fit me as well as the Swift II pillows (leaks) and the "spaceball" rotating hose attachment tends to be noisy / leaky in certain positions.

Thanks!

I have used the Swift LT for 3 nights and I am extremely pleased with it. I had the Opus 360 and the Swift LT fixed all of the issues i was having. It is more comfortable to wear, does not hurt my nose and leaks a lot less than the Opus 360. I am a side sleeper and I could not sleep on my side with the Opus 360 because it would leak too much. I am not sure if it is the adjustable barrel or the dual pillows that fixes the leak issues I was having, but I have very few leaks with the Swift LT and my AHI numbers have improved. Only time will tell, but for now I think I have found a mask I can live with.

I just ordered mine, but it is back order unfortunately so I have to wait until the 13th.

I'm in the 1% of the users you references who would want all three pillows. They are really helpful to those whose nares don't quite fit the small or medium. It gives the option of switching back and forth.

Also, I really appreciate the zipper case. It contributes to the overall feeling that I have a quality product in my hand - especially versus the sealed plastic bags of Respironics : ) It is also handy for travel.

So, now that it's one month later, have you switched full time to the Swift LT?

Thanks for the review.

Have you tried the Hybrid?

How does it compare --- if you can compare them.

Are you using this mask with a Resmed S8 machine?

If so, what mask setting does it use?