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Re: CPAP vs BIPAP

Posted by AlA on April 18, 2002 at 05:04:35:

In Reply to: CPAP vs BIPAP posted by JimC on April 17, 2002 at 19:35:28:

CPAP stands for Continous Positive Airway Pressure, and BIPAP for Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure. On the CPAP the pressure level does not change. On the BIPAP you have the inhale at one pressure and the exhale at a lower pressure.

Generally the Bilevel is used for people on high pressure settings to aid the exhale, and/or for people with central apnea.

Unless you are having centrals you should not need a BIPAP at a pressure of 8 which is rather low. I am at 15 with a CPAP and have no problem with exhale. From observation it seems that pressures in the midteens and above is when BIPAPs genrally start to come in to use.

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