Central Sleep Apnea and VPAP Adapt SV: Francisco's Story

Several years ago, I was diagnosed with a sleep disorder and prescribed CPAP. After a trial with it, it made me feel like I was choking harder and I felt even more sleep deprived. During this period of time I was serving as a Christian Minister for the Hispanic community. Ultimately, I lost my ministry because of the sleep issues. I was having chest and arm pain and my body was not responding very well. My tiredness increased to the point that staying awake was a challenge.

Concerned, I started looking for help and found Dr. Reisman. He suggested I have a sleep study. My AHI was severe at 80. I was referred to Progressive Medical. From the very beginning I was impressed by their concern about my sleep deprivation. After a couple of meetings, I started my treatment with APAP, but my oxygen level was still questionable. I was having desaturations and too many apneic events. Finally, they introduced me to the Adapt SV and the therapy began to work.

Believe me, before Adapt SV my life was very limited. Going to work was torture due to my lack of energy. I didn't have any desire to go out, being depressed most of the time. My only hobby by then was the movies, but 85% of the time I fell asleep in the theater.

Today, the chest and arm pain are completely gone. I am sleeping from 6 to 7 hours straight. My energy level is good. I have a positive attitude and I'm always alert. Driving was a risk and now I can drive for hours and keep going. My memory is functioning well; I can now remember things I was forgetting in the past.

Today I am looking to the horizon with a hope that I didn't have before. The VPAP Adapt is a marvelous innovation. I pray for the people who need this machine to be guided in the right direction so they can have the happiness that I have today.

Francisco G., complex sleep apnea patient

The challenge of central and complex sleep apnea

Francisco's story is not uncommon. He presented at Progressive Medical with central sleep apneas that could not be resolved with simple CPAP. In spite of his treatment, his symptoms stayed the same and his central apneic events actually worsened. At that time we determined that he would be a good candidate for the VPAP Adapt SV. We were very gratified at Francisco's success with the Adapt SV and the dramatic improvement to his overall health and quality of life.

At Progressive Medical, we consider ourselves at the forefront of a trend toward increased awareness in the industry about the challenge of central and complex sleep apnea. Many sleep labs and physicians who have struggled to treat patients with these challenging forms of sleep-disordered breathing are increasingly turning to the Adapt SV as an effective and comfortable solution for all forms of central sleep apnea, including periodic breathing such as Cheyne-Stokes respiration, mixed apnea and complex sleep apnea. H undreds of sleep labs nationwide have begun to titrate these challenging patients with the Adapt SV and the success has been considerable.

How does the Adapt SV work?

The VPAP Adapt SV uses adaptive servo-ventilation to adjust to a patient's ventilatory needs on a breath-by-breath basis, to normalize breathing and completely suppress all forms of central sleep apnea. The adaptive servo-ventilation algorithm automatically calculates a target ventilation (90% of the patient's recent average ventilation) and adjusts the pressure support to achieve it.

Our experience with the VPAP Adapt SV has been very positive. Patients like Francisco find it a comfortable and welcome solution to their often years-long struggle to get a good night's sleep. We hope that by sharing Francisco's story we can spread the message about Adapt SV technology and help other patients like Francisco get effective treatment for challenging forms of sleep-disordered breathing.

Helen Kent, BS, RRT
Company Founder, Progressive Medical