Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.17

                      AMENDMENT NO.4 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                 This AMENDMENT NO.4 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT is made
                          and entered into as of August 11,2000, by and among
                          HUDSON RESPIRATORY CARE INC., a California corporation
                          (the "Borrower"), RIVER HOLDING CORP., a Delaware
                          corporation ("Holding") and the Required Lenders (as
                          defined in Article I of the Credit Agreement).

                                   RECITALS

    A. The Borrower, Holding, the Lenders (as defined in Article I of the Credit
Agreement), Salomon Brothers Inc, as Arranger, Advisor and Syndication Agent,
and Bankers Trust Company, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, entered
into a Credit Agreement dated as of April7, 1998 (as amended and otherwise
modified to the date hereof, the "Credit Agreement"). Capitalized terms used
herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the
Credit Agreement.

    B. The Borrower requested certain changes to the Credit Agreement.

    C. The Required Lenders are willing to so amend the Credit Agreement on the
terms and conditions set forth herein.

    D. The Borrower, Holding and the Required Lenders are entering this
Amendment pursuant to Section 9.08(b) of the Credit Agreement.

                                  AGREEMENTS

    In consideration of the foregoing Recitals, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Borrower, Holding and the Required Lenders agree as follows:

    1. Definitions. (a) The definition of "Capital Expenditures" is amended in
its entirety to read:

         "Capital Expenditures" means capital expenditures of the Borrower and
    its Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding a cumulative
    amount of up to $4,000,000 of SAP Computer Capital Expenditures.

    (b) The table in the definition of "Pricing Adjustment" is amended in its
entirety to read:
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             Category 1             Category 2           Category 3             Category 4         Category 5
                                                  Debt/ Adjusted        Debt/Adjusted         Debt/Adjusted
                                                   EBITDA Ratio          EBITDA Ratio          EBITDA Ratio
                        Debt/Adjusted EBITDA     less than 5.5:1.0    less than 4.75:1.0   less than 4.0:1.0 and   Debt/Adjusted
                        Ratio greater than or   and greater than or   and greater than or  greater than or equal   EBITDA Ratio
                          equal to 5.5:1.0       equal to 4.75:1.0     equal to 4.0:1.0          to 3.5:1.0        less than 3.5:1.0
                          ----------------      -----------------      ----------------          ----------        -----------------
<S>                     <C>                     <C>                   <C>                   <C>                    <C>
Commitment                       0%                    0%                     0%                    .0625%                 .125%
Fees
ABR Loans                        0%                 .250%                  .500%                     .750%                1.000%
Eurodollar                       0%                 .250%                  .500%                     .750%                1.000%
Loans
</TABLE>

     (C) The following definitions are inserted in Section 1.01 of the Credit
Agreement in alphabetical order:

          "Holdco" means collectively HRC Holding, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
     and Hudson Euro Co S.a.r.l., a Luxembourg corporation.

          "SAP Computer Capital Expenditures" means Capital Expenditures for the
     installation of the Borrower's SAP computer system, including hardware
     costs, SAP licensing fees, implementation consulting, and internally
     capitalized labor, in each case incurred on or before June 30, 2000.

     2. Interest on Loans. Sections 2.06(a) and (b) of the Credit Agreement are
amended in their entirety to read:

          (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.07, the Loans comprising
     each ABR Borrowing, including each Swingline Loan, shall bear interest
     (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of
     365 or 366 days, as the case may be, when the Alternate Base Rate is
     determined by reference to the Prime Rate and over a year of 360 days at
     all other times) at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus
     2.00% less the applicable Pricing Adjustment.

           (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.07, the Loans comprising
     each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest (computed on the basis of
     the actual number of days elapsed over a year of360 days) at a rate per
     annum equal to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period in
     effect for such Borrowing plus 3.00% less the applicable Pricing
     Adjustment.

     3. Use of Proceeds. Section 3.13(e) is amended in its entirety to read as
follows:

           (e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, but
     subject to Section 2.01(b), not more than $45,000,000 of the Aggregate
     Revolving Credit Exposure outstanding at any time may be used by the
     Borrower for purposes of Permitted Acquisitions pursuant to Section
     6.04(c), and not more than

                 (i) until December 31,2000, $20,000,000,

                                       2
<PAGE>

                 (ii) thereafter, (A) $15,000,000 if the Debt/Adjusted EBITDA
          Ratio of the Borrower measured as of the most recently completed
          fiscal quarter is greater than 4.25:1.00, and (B) otherwise,
          $20,000,000,

    of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure outstanding at any time may be
    used by the Borrower for any corporate purpose other than Permitted
    Acquisitions pursuant to Section 6.04(c).

    4. Debt/Adjusted EBITDA Ratio. Section 6.09 of the Credit Agreement is
amended in its entirety to read as follows:

         Section 6.09. Debt/Adjusted EBITDA Ratio. The Debt/Adjusted EBITDA
    Ratio shall not exceed the following amounts as of the ends of fiscal
    quarters of the Borrower ending nearest to the following dates:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Quarter                                            Debt/Adjusted EBITDA Ratio
Ending Nearest                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    to                             1998        1999           2000          2001         2002        2003         2004
                              --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>           <C>            <C>          <C>           <C>         <C>        <C>
March 31                                    6.40:1.00      5.60:1.00     4.90:1.00     3.75:1.00    3.50:1.00    3:50:1.00

June 30                         6.75:1:00   6.40:1.00      6.00:1.00     4.50:1.00     3.75:1.00    3.50:1.00

September 30                    6.75:1:00   6.20:1.00      5.50:1.00     4.25:1.00     3.75:1.00    3.50:1.00

December 31                     6.40:1.00   6.00:1.00      5.25:1.00     4.00:1.00     3.50:1.00    3.50:1.00
                              --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

           and thereafter, 3.50:1.00.

     5. Interest Coverage Ratio. Sections 6.11(c) and (d) of the Credit
Agreement are amended in their entirety to read as follows:

           (c) The ratio of

                 (i) the EBITDA for the period of four fiscal quarters ending
           nearest to December 31, 1998 to

                 (ii) the product of 1.33 times the Consolidated Interest
           Expense for the period of three fiscal quarters ending nearest to
           December 31, 1998,

     shall not be less than 1.60:1.00.

                (d) The ratio of EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense for the
           period of four fiscal quarters ending nearest to each of the
           following dates, shall not be less than the following ratios:

                                       3
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Quarter Ending                                   Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio
Nearest to                    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  1999          2000          2001          2002           2003         2004
                              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                            <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>
 March 31                       1.55:1.00     1.80:1.00      2.00:1.00     2.75:1.00     3.00:1:00    3.00:1:00
 June 30                        1.55:1.00     1.70:1.00      2.20:1.00     2.75:1.00     3.00:1:00
 September 30                   1.65:1.00     1.70:1.00      2.30:1.00     2.75:1.00     3.00:1:00
 December 31                    1.65:1.00     1.85:1.00      2.50:1.00     3.00:1.00     3.00:1:00
                              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          and thereafter, 3.00:1.00.
</TABLE>

     6. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Section 6.12 of the Credit Agreement is
amended in its entirety to read as follows:

          SECTION 6.12. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Fixed Charge Coverage
     Ratio as of the end of the period of four fiscal quarters ending nearest to
     the following dates shall not be less than the following ratios, beginning
     with the fiscal quarter ending nearest to March 31, 1999:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Quarter Ending                                    Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
Nearest to                    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  1999          2000          2001          2002           2003         2004
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                            <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>
March 31                         1.05:1.00    1.00:1.00      1.10:1.00     1.20:1.00     1.20:1.00    1.20:1.00
June 30                          1.00:1.00    1.00:1.00      1.15:1.00     1.20:1.00     1.20:1.00
September 30                     1.00:1.00    1.00:1.00      1.15:1.00     1.20:1.00     1.20:1.00
December 31                      1.00:1.00    1.05:1.00      1.20:1.00     1.20:1.00     1.20:1.00
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          and thereafter, 1.20:1.00.
</TABLE>

     7. Binding Effect and Effectiveness. This Amendment may be executed in as
many counterparts as may be convenient and shall become binding when the
Borrower, Holding and the Required Lenders have each executed and delivered at
least one counterpart, and shall become legally binding (and with respect to the
amendments made in items 1 (b) and 2, immediately effective; with respect to the
amendment to the definition of "Holdco", with retrospective effect from June 17,
1999); and with respect to each other amendment herein, with retrospective
effect from June 30,2000) upon satisfaction of the following conditions
precedent:

           (a) The Borrower shall have paid to each Lender that executes this
     Amendment at or before 12:00 noon, Los Angeles time, on August 11,2000, an
     amendment fee equal to 0.25% of such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment
     and outstanding Term Loans as of the date of this Amendment.

                                       4
<PAGE>

           (b) The Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent all fees
     which are due and payable to the Administrative Agent under the Credit
     Agreement as amended.

     8. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be a contract made under and
governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts
of law provisions thereof

     9. Reference to Credit Agreement. Except as amended hereby, the Credit
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and
confirmed in all respects. On and after the effectiveness of the amendment to
the Credit Agreement accomplished hereby, each reference in the Credit
Agreement, to "this Agreement", "hereunder", "hereof', "herein" or words of like
import, and each reference to the Credit Agreement shall be deemed a reference
to the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, as the case may be.

                                       5
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have cause this amendment to be duly
executed by their respective officers as of the date first above written.

                                   HUDSON RESPIRATORY CARE INC.,

                                   by: /s/ Jay R. Ogram
                                   ---------------------------------------
                                   Name: Jay R. Ogram
                                   Title: Chief Financial Officer

                                   RIVER HOLDING CORP.

                                   by: /s/ Jay R. Ogram
                                   ---------------------------------------
                                   Name: Jay R. Ogram
                                   Title: Chief Financial Officer

                                   Acknowledged by:

                                   BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as
                                   Administrative agent and Collateral Agent

                                   by: /s/  Mary Jo Jolly
                                   ---------------------------------------
                                   Name: Mary Jo Jolly
                                   Title: Assistant Vice President

                                   SALOMON BROTHERS INC, as Arranger,
                                   Advisor and Syndication Agent,

                                   By: /s/ Timothy L. Freeman
                                   ---------------------------------------
                                   Name: Timothy L. Freeman
                                   Title: Managing Director

                                       6
<PAGE>

                                   LENDERS
                                   -------

                                   BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,

                                   by: /s/  Mary Jo Jolly
                                   ---------------------------------------
                                   Name: Mary Jo Jolly
                                   Title: Assistant Vice President

                                   CITICORP USA, INC.,

                                   by: /s/ Timothy L. Freeman
                                   ---------------------------------------
                                   Name: Timothy L. Freeman
                                   Title: Managing Director

                                   BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL
                                   TRUST AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION,

                                   by:
                                   ---------------------------------------
                                   Name:
                                   Title:

                                   BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI TRUST COMPANY,

                                   by: /s/ Nicholas J. Campbell, Jr.
                                   ---------------------------------------
                                   Name: Nicholas J. Campbell, Jr.
                                   Title: Vice President

                                   BHF (USA) CAPITAL CORP.,

                                   by: /s/ Hans. J. Scholtz
                                   ---------------------------------------
                                   Name: Hans. J. Scholtz
                                   Title: Vice President

                                   by: /s/ Thomas J. Scifo
                                   ---------------------------------------
                                   Name: Thomas J. Scifo
                                   Title: Vice President

                                   BANK AUSTRIA CREDITANSTALT
                                   CORPORATE FINANCE, INC.,

                                   by: /s/ Patrick Rounds
                                   ---------------------------------------
                                   Name: Patrick Rounds
                                   Title: Senior Vice President

                                       7
<PAGE>

                                   by: /s/ Geoffrey C. Headington
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                   Name: Geoffrey C. Headington
                                   Title: Senior Associate

                                   WELLS FARGO BANK, NA.,

                                   by: /s/ S. Michael St. Geme
                                   ---------------------------------------
                                   Name: S. Michael St. Geme
                                   Title: Vice President

                                   ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,

                                   by: /s/ S. Lori Ross
                                   ---------------------------------------
                                   Name: Lori Ross
                                   Title: Manager

                                   SOCIETE GENERALE,

                                   by: /s/ J. Staley Stewert
                                   ---------------------------------------
                                   Name: J. Staley Stewert
                                   Title: Director

                                   IMPERIAL BANK,

                                   by: /s/ Ray Valdama
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                   Name: Ray Valdama
                                   Title: Senior Managing Director

                                   NATIONS BANK, N.A., as successor to
                                   NationsBank of Texas, N.A.,

                                   by:
                                   ---------------------------------------
                                   Name:
                                   Title:

                                       8<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.18

               CONSENT AND WAIVER NO. 2 dated as of September 1, 2000 (this
          "Consent and Waiver"), to the Credit Agreement dated as of April 7,
          1998 (as amended and otherwise modified to the date hereof, the
          "Credit Agreement"), among HUDSON RESPIRATORY CARE INC., a California
          corporation (the "Borrower"), RIVER HOLDING CORP., a Delaware
          corporation ("Holding"), the Lenders (as defined in therein), SALOMON
          BROTHERS INC, as Arranger, Advisor and Syndication Agent (in such
          capacity, the "Syndication Agent"), and BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, a New
          York banking corporation, as administrative agent (in such capacity,
          the "Administrative Agent") and as collateral agent (in such capacity,
          the "Collateral Agent") for the Lenders.

     A. Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have extended and agreed
to extend credit to the Borrower and the Issuing Bank has agreed to issue
letters of credit for the account of the Borrower, in each case pursuant to the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement.

     B. The Borrower has informed the Administrative Agent that it intends to
acquire certain assets of Tyco Healthcare Group LP as described in Annex I.

     C. The Borrower has requested that the Required Lenders waive compliance by
the Borrower of clause (j)(i) of the definition of the term "Permitted
Acquisition" in the Credit Agreement (concerning the Pro Forma Debt/Pro Forma
EBITDA ratio) and Section 2.13(c)(ii) of the Credit Agreement (concerning the
mandatory prepayments of Loans with proceeds of Equity Issuances), to the extent
necessary to consummate the Acquisition.

     D. The Required Lenders are willing to grant such consent and limited
waiver pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

     E. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein or in Annex I
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

     Accordingly, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and
other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     SECTION 1. Consent and Waiver. The Required Lenders hereby waive compliance
by the Borrower with the provisions of clause ()(i) of the definition of the
term "Permitted Acquisition" in the Credit Agreement and Section 2.13(c)(ii) of
the Credit Agreement to the extent, but only to the extent necessary to
consummate the Acquisition; provided, however, that

          (a) the Acquisition shall be consummated as provided in Annex I;
<PAGE>

          (b) the Borrower shall be in compliance with all other provisions of
     the Credit Agreement;

          (c) the Borrower shall have on or before September 8, 2000, paid each
     Lender that executes and delivers this Consent and Waiver at or before
     12:00 noon (Los Angeles time), on September 6, 2000, a fee in the amount of
     0.05% of the sum of such Lender's unused Revolving Credit Commitment and
     outstanding Loans; and

          (d) the Borrower shall have, before or concurrently with the
     Acquisition, paid each Lender a fee in the amount of 0.075% of the sum of
     such Lender's unused Revolving Credit Commitment and outstanding Loans.

     SECTION 2. Representations and Warranties. To induce the other parties
hereto to enter into this Consent and Waiver, the Borrower represents and
warrants to each other party hereto that:

          (a) this Consent and Waiver has been duly authorized, executed and
     delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation,
     enforceable in accordance with its terms;

          (b) before and after giving effect to this Consent and Waiver, the
     representations and warranties set forth in Article III of the Credit
     Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the
     date hereof with the same effect as though made on and as of the date
     hereof, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly
     relate to an earlier date;

          (c) before and after giving effect to this Consent and Waiver, no
     Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and

          (d) after giving effect to the Acquisition, the Borrower and its
     Subsidiaries will have sufficient financial liquidity for conducting its
     customary business.

     SECTION 3. Effectiveness. This Consent and Waiver shall not become
effective until such time as the Administrative Agent shall have received
counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of the
Borrower and the Required Lenders. This Consent and Waiver shall cease to be
effective if the Acquisition has not been consummated on or before November 30,
2000.

     SECTION 4. Effect of Consent and Waiver. Except as expressly set forth
herein, this Consent and Waiver shall not by implication or otherwise limit,
impair, constitute a waiver of, or otherwise affect the rights and remedies of
the Lenders, the Administrative Agent or the Borrower under the Credit Agreement
or any other Loan Document, and shall not alter, modify, amend or in any way
affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements
contained in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, all of which are
ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and
effect. Nothing herein shall be

                                       2
<PAGE>

deemed to entitle the Borrower to a consent to, or a waiver, amendment,
modification or other change of, any of the terms, conditions, obligations,
covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan
Document in similar or different circumstances. After the date hereof, any
reference to the Credit Agreement shall mean the Credit Agreement as modified
hereby. This Consent and Waiver shall constitute a "Loan Document" for all
purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

     SECTION 5. Expenses. The Borrower agrees to pay the reasonable out-of-
pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and the
Collateral Agent in connection with the preparation of this Consent and Waiver
and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the reasonable fees, charges
and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Collateral
Agent.

     SECTION 6. Acknowledgment of Guarantors. Each of the Guarantors listed on
Annex I hereto hereby acknowledges receipt of and notice of, and consents to the
terms of, this Consent and Waiver.

     SECTION 7. Counterparts. This Consent and Waiver may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by different parties hereto on separate counterparts,
each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but
all of which together shall constitute a single instrument. Delivery of an
executed counterpart of a signature page of this Consent and Waiver by facsimile
transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed
counterpart hereof.

     SECTION 8. Applicable Law. THIS CONSENT AND WAIVER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY,
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

     SECTION 9. Headings. The headings of this Consent and Waiver are for
purposes of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning
hereof

                                       3
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have cause this amendment to be duly
executed by their respective officers as of the date first above written.

                                HUDSON RESPIRATORY CARE INC.,

                                by:     /s/ Jay R. Ogram
                                -----------------------------
                                Name:  Jay R. Ogram
                                Title: Chief Financial Officer

                                RIVER HOLDING CORP.

                                by:     /s/ Jay R. Ogram
                                -----------------------------
                                Name:  Jay R. Ogram
                                Title: Chief Financial Officer

                                Acknowledged by:

                                BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as
                                Administrative agent and Collateral Agent

                                by:    /s/ Mary Jo Jolly
                                -----------------------------
                                Name:  Mary Jo Jolly
                                Title: Assistant Vice President

                                SALOMON BROTHERS INC, as Arranger,
                                Advisor and Syndication Agent,

                                By:  /s/ Timothy L. Freeman
                                -----------------------------
                                Name:  Timothy L. Freeman
                                Title: Managing Director

<PAGE>

                                LENDERS
                                -------

                                BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,

                                by:
                                -----------------------------
                                Name:
                                Title:

                                CITICORP USA, INC.,

                                by:  /s/ Timothy L. Freeman
                                ------------------------------
                                Name:  Timothy L. Freeman
                                Title: Managing Director

                                BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL
                                TRUST AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION,

                                by:     /s/ Helen Wilson
                                ------------------------------
                                Name:  Helen Wilson
                                Title: Senior Vice President

                                BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI TRUST
                                COMPANY,

                                by:
                                -----------------------------
                                Name:
                                Title:

                                BHF (USA) CAPITAL CORP.,

                                by:   /s/ Thomas J. Scifo
                                -----------------------------
                                Name:  Thomas J. Scifo
                                Title: Vice President

                                by:  /s/ Nina Zhou
                                -----------------------------
                                Name:  Nina Zhou
                                Title: Associate

                                BANK AUSTRIA CREDITANSTALT
                                CORPORATE FINANCE, INC.,

                                by:
                                -----------------------------
                                Name:
                                Title:

                                       5
<PAGE>

                                by:
                                ----------------------------
                                Name:
                                Title:

                                WELLS FARGO BANK, NA.,

                                by:  /s/ S. Michael St. Geme
                                ----------------------------
                                Name:  S. Michael St. Geme
                                Title: Vice President

                                ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,

                                by:
                                -----------------------------
                                Name:
                                Title:

                                SOCIETE GENERALE,

                                by:  /s/ J. Staley Stewert
                                ------------------------------
                                Name:  J. Staley Stewert
                                Title: Director

                                IMPERIAL BANK,

                                by:  /s/ Ray Valdama
                                ------------------------------
                                Name:  Ray Valdama
                                Title: Senior Managing Director

                                       6

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