BIPAP machine and surgery

I have a BIPAP machine - which is similar to the CPAP machines, but has two different air flow rates.  When I had my PATTS, they mentioned that patients with BIPAP machines had to be put in ICU.

Has anyone else had any experience with this?

Linda C.

I had to bring my CPAP with me and they put me in the step-down unit after surgery.  It's one level of care below ICU.  It's the norm to bring it with you, don't forget it.

I have a CPAP and my family was told because of that I'd be in recovery for a longer period of time. I think this is another thing that varies from hospital to hospital. Better to be safe in the ICU than sorry.

 great post  i have bipap as well never heard of this before ty for posting

Please Please Please bring your machine! I had a roomie who snored like a chainsaw until she was told she had to wear it!!!

I took my cpap machine and I was in recovery longer, I took longer to wake up to - partially because I don't breathe deeply. 

I have a CPAP machine and I brought it with me to the hospital. It wasn't put on me until I was taken to my room. A respiratory tech came down to my room and set me all up. I was surprised because my pressure was quite high at 15, but I wasn't kept in recovery any extra time either.

Mine is a BiPap as well.  I had to bring it with me and they put it on me in recovery.  I wasn't put in a step down room or ICU though.  They put those little circular stickies on my chest attached to wires that fed into a little box that I wore as a necklace - and I also had one of those clips they put on your fingers to read your oxygen levels.  They called it a telemetry unit.  Basically that allowed  ICU to monitor me the whole time I was in the hospital.  That way all my vitals were still being monitored, but I didn't have to be in a special room.   A respiratory tech came to my room and added an attachment to my BiPap that allowed oxgen to flow into my mask as well as regular air. 

Laura