Question:
What dose a Bipap machine prevent

Will this prevent blood clots. What happens if I have tried to use it at night, but end off pulling it off half way thorugh the night. Could I be at risk for complications. Thanks    — Kristine K. (posted on August 21, 2003)

August 21, 2003
A BiPAP has nothing to do with blood clots. It's a machine that blows Positive Air Pressure (PAP) into your lungs through your nose as you sleep to prevent apneaic episodes. (stopping breathing) If you pull it off in your sleep, the possible complication is that you will stop breathing and while still under the effects of general anesthesia, the risk in increased greatly that this will happen. Undiagnosed sleep apnea is a large contributor to deaths due to complications from this or any other surgery. I have never pulled it off in my sleep in the 3 years I've been sleeping in my CPAP, except for one time when I was having a weird dream and woke up trying to take a bite out of my mask. lol If you've been suffering from the effects of apnea for long, you will be surprised at how well you sleep with it, even in the beginning. You think it will be hard to get used to sleeping in it, but you don't realize how long it's been since you've had a real night's sleep. Good luck!
   — Becky K.