While some recommend CPAP and BiPAP use in the PACU, others have called its benefits uncertain, reports sister magazine RT.
There are some drawbacks of patients bringing their machine to a sleep center:
- One, CPAP devices in a PACU setting should be used only by patients who are arousable, are cooperative, and have intact protective airway reflexes (eg, coughing).
- Two, a personal CPAP machine in a PACU setting would require additional hospital resources such as staff time needed to process and inspect the machine, which could be time-consuming and challenging because of the many varieties of positive airway pressure machines; and a PACU staff may not be familiar with how to use different positive airway pressure machines.
