Problems with Philips CPAP devices and ventilators
We received a safety notice from the manufacturer Philips regarding several CPAP devices and ventilators used in the UZ Leuven sleep lab to treat breathing problems and sleep apnoea.
We will contact you ourselves if any action is required for your device.
How does CPAP therapy work?
CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure.
When we breathe in, negative pressure forms in our airways, drawing in air. This can lead to a reduced or blocked passage in the upper airways and result in obstructive sleep apnoea. With CPAP therapy, air is blown in to maintain a positive pressure in the airways and keep them open.
The device blows regular room air, without added oxygen. If extra oxygen is needed, an oxygen concentrator must be connected.
What is the effect of the therapy?
CPAP therapy is a treatment, but it does not cure apnoea. This is why the device must be used every night, often for life.
By maintaining positive pressure in the airways, the therapy eliminates apnoeas and hypopnoeas. Your blood oxygen levels no longer drop, and you no longer have to struggle to breathe. This allows you to regain a normal, healthy sleep and feel energised again during the day. One of the advantages is that the therapy works immediately, so you’ll feel better quite quickly.
It also reduces the risk of other serious health issues (e.g. high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes) to the level of someone without sleep apnoea. However, CPAP therapy does not affect other risk factors that may cause these issues. It remains important not to smoke, to eat healthily, and to stay active.
Watch: what is sleep apnoea and how does CPAP therapy work? (in Dutch)
Starting the treatment in the sleep centre
To begin the treatment, you are admitted to the sleep centre. You come to the hospital in the early afternoon.
Day one
- All the sensors are applied as during a polysomnography.
- The nurse fits the mask together with you. You can try out the therapy with the mask and the device.
- A first information session is provided about the device.
At night
- This is your first night sleeping with the mask and the device.
- Be aware that this night may not be very comfortable. The device will be adjusting to find the optimal pressure, so it may sometimes blow too much or too little. You’ll also need to get used to the device.
Day two
- A blood sample is taken in the morning.
- After breakfast, a few additional tests are performed: lung function test, chest X-ray (RX thorax), and electrocardiogram.
- A second information session is given about the device. If you need help at home with CPAP therapy, your partner, a family member or another caregiver is welcome to attend.
- If you are part of the convention, you will receive your definitive device. Read more about the CPAP convention.
- In the afternoon, the doctor visits to discuss the test results with you.
- The optimal pressure for you is set as the standard in your device.
Going home
- You may go home with the device and the mask. From now on, you can sleep using the device.
Watch: starting CPAP therapy (in Dutch)
Starting the treatment at home
For some patients, it is possible to start CPAP therapy at home. If you qualify for this option, the doctors will propose it during the discussion of your polysomnography results.
In this pathway, the patient sleeps at home for two weeks with a test device, and three short visits to the sleep centre are scheduled:
- A detailed consultation to adjust the mask and receive education on the CPAP device and its accessories. The patient takes the device home and can start the treatment.
- About one week after starting, the patient collects a polygraph to evaluate the treatment. The patient then sleeps at home that night with the CPAP device and the polygraph.
- The next day, the patient returns the polygraph to the sleep centre.
The CPAP device
A CPAP device is an electric unit with a built-in compressor and pressure regulator, connected via an air hose to a mask and headgear. A heated humidifier can be attached if needed.
The following information page provides more details on how the device works, how to maintain its components, key points of attention when using it, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Possible problems or complaints
Unlike medication, CPAP therapy does not cause side effects. However, some issues or discomforts may arise, such as a blocked or runny nose, mask problems, or claustrophobia.
The following information page provides more details about these possible discomforts and how to manage them.
Frequently asked questions
You should use the device every night, for the entire night, to ensure the best treatment outcome.
Yes. CPAP therapy is a treatment, but it does not cure sleep apnoea. As soon as you stop the therapy, symptoms such as snoring, apnoea, and fatigue will return immediately.
In some milder cases, sleep apnoea can resolve, for example by losing weight.
- Most people notice an effect within the first week after starting the therapy.
- If you have significant sleep debt, it may take a little longer before the effect is fully felt and your body has adjusted. Give the therapy time and keep going. After four weeks, there should be a clear improvement.