Any experience of CPAP in hospital? Please share, I'm worried!

[Cookingupastorm]

Hello. My mum has pneumonia and a minor heart attack just to add to the fun! She has been on icu for a few days but now moved to hdu on continuous cpap (75% oxygen). they can't take the mask off because her oxygen sats plummet. How long can this go on for? Can they continue continuous cpap for days/weeks?

Hi.
Is it through a face mask or a tube?

Yes they can certainly stay on it for days. I am not sure about weeks.

I hope your mum recovers quickly and look after yourself too.

Sorry see you said mask..DOH!
She can be on it for as long as it takes. She will be on antibiotics and wll be having regular physio. This all helps to clear the pnuemonia.
She will also need to be sat out in a chair with the mask on as positioning is very important.

I have seen people on high flows with high concentrations of oxygen get better, it really is a great therapy. (albeit very uncomfortable)

I only know about it from DS who was on CPAP when he was 8 weeks old. He was on CPAP for 6 days because he had bronchiolitis, when he was taken off that he was on oxygen for a few days more.

The CPAP basically gave his body enough help to recover.

If you have concerns ask the staff, they should be able to explain things for you.

Thanks..they aren't able to sit her up yet..she is pretty immobile..Blood pressure and pulse rocket if she moves or coughs! Yes..it's a mask..been on for 3 days now on 75%..they tried her on Oxygen mask at 90% but sats fell sharply. It's just a worry..can't imagine her getting better!

Cpap - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure - basically the air/oxygen is blowing through the airway to keep it open and also delivering extra oxygen needed. This is slightly more support than just oxygen via a mask but obviously not as dependent as a ventilator.
She can stay on it as long as she needs to. As her pnuemonia resolves her support will decrease. I hope she gets better soon.

thank you all for the replies, much appreciated.

My premature babies were on cpap for weeks but its probably different for adults as their lungs aren't growing.

Hopefully your mum will turn a corner soon and start feeling better.

I hope your Mums gets better soon, the only experience of cpap I have is when dt's were in NICU, dt2 was on it for 2 weeks or so, continuously at first but they weaned him off it as he got stronger, then he went from 4 hours on to 4 hours off and onwards and upwards form there.

I am on CPAP every night OP. I would imagine she will be fine on it, it sounds worse than it is.

I had low% oxygen in a sleep study and pass for normal .

I hope your dm is well soon.

ds2 was ventilated then CPAP & then Oxygen. I think the CPAP was for about 2wks, oxygen for about a month after that. But his was due to prenaturity

My Dad is in and out of hospital with COPD. He is usually on the CPAP for approx 3-5 days, then he has tube/nebuliser. Hope your mam feels better, pneumonia is a horrible thing.