ALERT TO USERS of smart servo-ventilation devices for sleep-disordered breathing

If you are the user of either of the following two devices, both used to treat sleep-disordered breathing, you may need to contact your physician, if they have not yet contacted you already, to discuss your continued use of this technology. 

• ASV (ResMed) 
• BiPAP Auto SV (Respironics)

In mid-May, ResMed completed trials on its adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) therapy and discovered that certain patients with chronic heart failure may be at risk for higher mortality while using this technology. 

Their competitor, Respironics, agreed to join ResMed in issuing a recommendation that doctors, with patients with these specific heart conditions using either device, ask their patients to stop using these technologies (regardless of brand) until researchers can learn more about the risk factors of the technology and understand the study data. 

If this is the first time you have heard about the recall of ASV technology, and you use an ASV or "smart" device, please contact your doctor to find out if you qualify as one of the patients that needs to stop using your therapy. Remember, this is a very specific, small group of patients and does not affect all ASV users nor does it include any PAP users. The chances are good you are safe, but it is in your best interest to touch base with your physician.

Please see the safety alert issued by ResMed here.

Please see the Philips Respironics supporting reply to the initial ResMed study here.

As we learn more at SleepyHeadCENTRAL, we will keep readers posted.