Is there a recommended CPAP machine for kids?

My 11 year old son has also been diagnosed with OSA. The doctor at Childrens Hospital fax the DME company a script. The DME said the machine they would be providing was a Resperonics PR System One Remstar DS150. The DME company they sent it to is PS Home Care which I quickly learned is a company under Lincare. I have already advised them that I will not be using them. They were awful to work with when I got my machine. I ended up switching companies after one month. Any ways, I wanted to find out if anyone knows anything about the DS150 or if there are brands/models that are better geared to treat kids. I appreciate any input you might have.

This is an entry level machine according to the cpap.com listing for this machine.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... chine.html

The Plus model is more expensive -- and I know on the M series the Plus model is one that most would pass up if at all possible.

Make sure it has data capability and not just compliance.

I would probably hold out for an apap since he will still be growing and possibly will need pressure changes along the way. Just my two cents. Contact the doctor and explain the reasoning since he is still growing and maturing.

audra wrote:Is there a recommended CPAP machine for kids?

I don't think age plays a role in machine choice. It should be pressure and the other features like AHI and leak data you should be interested in.

Spend some time researching this forum if you have Q?'s

There are only a select amount of machines and masks that are pediactric approved by the FDA. Be sure the DME that you work with is familiar with these regulations. Some complanies will "go off label' and have families sign release forms to give non-FDA approved units.

Yes the 150 is the basic...I would definetly get one with efficacay data. Yes Pediatic Specialists is owned by Lincare, however all they do is peds....I saw their truck and RT on 19 kids and counting when the preemie was discharged to home.

Thank you for the input. It confirmed my gut instinct regarding the machine and that an APAP might be a better choice for him. I am still very new to this since I have only had a machine since the end of February. Three to be precise. I went round and round with Lincare regarding the machine I needed. I had done a lot of research including reading a lot of posts on this website and talking to my own doctor. It is a great site and I am grateful to have found it. I have already left a message with my son's doctors office and hope to hear back tomorrow. I don't want my son to go through what I had to go through to get a machine that works well for him in all aspects, is of a higher quality and has the data capabilities to provide us with feedback.

Looks like this machine not only doesn't have efficacy data, it doesn't even have CFLEX/CFLEX+

Appears that this is the PR1's version of the Mseries DS100... bottom of the barrel.

I work in the intensive care unit of a large children's hospital. Lots of the kids are on ventilators and then, many of them switch to regular CPAP.

The respiratory therapists here in this hospital make heavy use of ResMed machines... there are a bunch of the S8 models in use; with these machines, they use the integrated humidifier. There are also some older Puritan-Bennet (Tyco/Covidian) machines around and with these machines, the staff use a Fisher-Paykel humidifier.

When a child needs to be discharged home on CPAP, we call up the local Medigas people (or other provider) and have them come into the hospital to do the set-up. These kids go home with the exact same machines that adults use.

When I picked up my S9, I showed it to the manager of the respiratory therapists here in the ICU... he was hugely impressed by what ResMed has done with the humidification aspect of the circuit. He looked at my machine closely and commented that the technology in my S9 was as advanced as what his staff use in the unit.

So, if you are looking for a machine for a child, get the experts to help you and, be comfortable that the machines that treat the big people are also good for the little people.

Kudos to you for having your son evaluated for apnea. I sure wouldn't want a bottom-of-the-barrel machine for a child. It seems to me like you'd need as much data as possible, because otherwise you'd just be going by your son's opinion of how he's feeling and how things are going. He's probably a great kid, but as a teacher who works with 11 year old boys all day every day, I wouldn't want his opinion to drive his medical care. Maybe it's just me students, but here's how I imagine a conversation would typically go: "How'd you sleep, honey?" "I don't know." "Did you wake up during the night?' " I don't know. What do we have to eat?" "Well, how do you feel?" "I feel hungry, Mom, what's there to eat?" Choose the path of least resistance and get a data-capable machine!

brazospearl wrote:Kudos to you for having your son evaluated for apnea. I sure wouldn't want a bottom-of-the-barrel machine for a child. It seems to me like you'd need as much data as possible, because otherwise you'd just be going by your son's opinion of how he's feeling and how things are going. He's probably a great kid, but as a teacher who works with 11 year old boys all day every day, I wouldn't want his opinion to drive his medical care. Maybe it's just me students, but here's how I imagine a conversation would typically go: "How'd you sleep, honey?" "I don't know." "Did you wake up during the night?' " I don't know. What do we have to eat?" "Well, how do you feel?" "I feel hungry, Mom, what's there to eat?" Choose the path of least resistance and get a data-capable machine!

You got it! The answers I usually get are way too generalized. Even if you give him very specific questions to try and narrow things down for an accurate answer or feedback, it is nearly impossible to get a true sense of how it working for him. Add to that he doesn't have the life experiences of adults to know what might be better or use examples from other experiences to help him with an accurate description. At least the data can speak for him to some extent. I managed to get a machine that works best for me. It will be easier to make demands on behalf of my son - it is really interesting what one will do when those motherly instincts kick in.
Having the information and support from this site helps so much! Thank you

My 7 year old was just diagnosed... we picked up his gear yesterday- I got him the Resmed S9 and a hybrid mask. His prescription was for apap, set on 9 - 12. He tried it last night- I got him to sleep, but he woke an hour later to use the bathroom and wouldn't put the mask back on. We'll try again tonight... any tips on getting kids used to CPAP??? btw... I use the same equipment and so he's used to the idea, just not using it himself.

Just so you know: For Respironics the auto is the System One RemStar Auto. The minimum acceptable machine (straight CPAP with full data is the System One Remstar Pro. (Avoid the Plus and DS150.)

For ResMed they are the S9 AutoSet and S9 Elite. (Avoid the Escape.)

camom, this is an issue I hadn't thought about before. How do you get him to do anything he doesn't want to do? Would it help for him to wear the mask during the day, maybe doing some playing as superheroes or something, or while playing video games or watching movies? And never forget the value of a well-placed reward for doing what he's asked to do! The therapy only works if he uses it. Refusing to use his machine is not acceptable, just like it wouldn't be acceptable for him to refuse to check his blood sugar if he had diabetes, and it wouldn't be acceptable for him eat Hot Cheetos all day. I wish I had a magic solution for you!

I totally agree... it's not an option for him to not wear it, but having been through it myself, I understand that it can be a pain to get used to! I tried just having him sit up with us watching TV before he went back to bed with the mask on... didn't work. We'll see how he does tonight- then we'll be out of town (and no electricity) for a week.
He's a good sport about things, so this may just take a little time (and maybe even some bribery ---oops---"motivation" )

There is a whole pediatric forum on the ASAA site. Lots of experienced parents and tips on how to get a kid to accept CPAP, masks, machines, etc. Here's the URL: http://www.apneasupport.org/forum-14.html I'd highly recommend checking that site out.

There are currently NO CPAP machines approved for pediatrics by the FDA. However there are a couple of BiPAP machines which are FDA approved. These are the 2 machines that I know of that are FDA approved.

Respironics BiPAP ST & Resmed VPAP III ST-A

Resmed may have recieved approval for one of their other PAP machines but i haven't verified that since Jan 2009. Respironics info is current as of last month.

Even as a Respiratory Therapist i wouldn't settle for anything less than a BiPAP ST for any one of my children.

As a Respiratory Therapist I would also have serious ethical issues if my department were using non-FDA approved PAP machines on children as you are suggesting they are doing in your hospital WillSucceed.

For the record I am a Neonatal certified Respiratory Therapist and spent the first 4 years of my career in a level IV NICU, the last 2 as the Lead Therapist.