Weaning from CPAP and secretions

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

My 9 1/2 month old ChArger, Gracie, currently has a tracheostomy and a G-button

due to swallowing problems. She was born 9 weeks premature, but never suffered

from the usual lung diseases affecting preemies, and she never has had an oxygen

requirement. The trach is due to the choanal atresia and getting her through

the surgeries. She has been on CPAP since her trach surgery at 2 months of age

(PEEP of only 6). We are having a hard time getting her completely off of CPAP

and wanted to know if anyone else has had a similar situation? We were actually

sprinting her for up to 5 hours a day, but then she came down with a couple of

respiratory viruses.

Like many CHARGErs, Gracie has a lot of secretions, and after reading the

Manual, it seems some of our kids are on CPAP or Bi-PAP to help with this.

Could this by why we are having a hard time weaning?

Caroline, Pete and Grace Gagliardi

[Guest guest]

Caroline,

(almost 4 yr!) was on bipap initially due to bronchomaliacia which he

has outgrown. Now he is on it at night b/c of his swallow being ineffective

(though improving). Does your child have alot of secretions b/c she is

aspirating her own saliva? If so then she may benefit from c/bipap. Docs out

in Penn. Children's did a study on this theory and proved successful.

Definitely works for KYle.

Betsy

[Guest guest]

Casroline,

Also, are the viruses actually penumonias from aspirations and that's why she

ends up back on cpap? I could be way off base though.

Betsy