What is the Respironics Trilogy?
The Respironics Trilogy is an all-in-one ventilation device, capable of delivering both invasive and non-invasive ventilation modes. The Trilogy is approved for acute-care and post-acute care settings and has a backup battery for transportation and emergency situations. In skilled nursing facilities without a ventilator license, the Trilogy can only be used as a non-invasive ventilator.
What is AVAPS-AE?
The Trilogy is capable of delivering numerous non-invasive ventilation modes, including CPAP, BiPAP, and Auto-PAP. However, most patients using the Trilogy in the SNF setting will be using Average Volume Assured Pressure Support-Auto EPAP (AVAPS-AE). AVAPS-AE mode is indicated for patients who have obstructive sleep apnea associated with chronic respiratory insufficiency. In AVAPS-AE mode, the device monitors the patient’s upper airway resistance and automatically adjusts the delivered EPAP required to maintain airway patency. Simultaneously, the Trilogy automatically adjusts pressure support to maintain a target tidal volume and when the breath rate is set to Auto, the device will adjust the back-up breath rate based on the patient’s spontaneous respiratory rate.
What is Non-invasive Ventilation?
Noninvasive ventilation refers to the administration of ventilator support without using an invasive artificial airway. The use of noninvasive ventilation has increased over the past two decades, and noninvasive ventilation has now become an integral tool in the management of both acute and chronic respiratory failure, in both the home setting and in the critical care unit. Noninvasive ventilation has been used as a replacement for invasive ventilation but its flexibility also allows it to be a valuable complement in patient management.