BiPAP | Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure | BiPAP Machine

BiPAP - Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure

BiPAP is the acronym to Bilevel positive airway pressure.

Bilevel positive airway pressure is a method of respiratory ventilation used primarily in the sleep apnea treatment.

Bilevel positive airway pressure (or BiPAP) appear to be particularly helpful for patients with coexisting lung disease and those with excessive levels of carbon dioxide.

BiPAP uses an electronic circuit to monitor the patient's breathing, unlike continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and provides two different pressures, a higher one during inhalation (IPAP) and a lower pressure during exhalation (EPAP).

BiPAP Machine

BiPAP machine is more costly, and is sometimes used with patients who have a higher than average CPAP pressure and/or who find breathing out against an increased pressure to be uncomfortable or troublesome to their sleep.

BiPAP machine is a small air pump attached to a facemask that fits over the nose and mouth and forces air through the passages or blows the airways open during sleep.

With a BiPAP machine the pressure is similar to CPAP when the user inhales. The pressure drops, when they exhale, making it much easier to breath. BiPAP machines are commonly prescribed for patients who have difficulty-tolerating CPAP.

They are generally bigger but they do tend to be much more comfortable, particularly for patients that have relatively high-pressure requirements. Many BiPAP (and CPAP) machines now consist of humidification features for added comfort.

Presently, CPAP and BiPAP machines have been shown to be the most effective in apnea treatment, and hopefully the availability of more sophisticated, adjustable devices will continue to make compliance greater in the future.

Sleep Study

Sleep study should be performed on the person during an overnight visit to hospital that measures various body functions, such as breathing pattern and heart rate. This gives more information about the person's sleep quality and breathing pattern.

From the results of the sleep study, the medical experts suggest bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP). The person's sleep quality and any daytime symptoms should improve, when used correctly every night.

Problems Associated With BiPAP Use:

If the person breathes out of time with the ventilator, it will send the wrong pressure during inspiration or expiration, which can cause discomfort while breathing. If the problem persists, it may mean that the BiPAP settings need to be changed in a follow-up study.

Common Problems with BiPAP:

  1. Snoring - The pressure may be too high or too low on the machine. Mouth breathers may need a full facemask. Weight gain may also increase snoring. Plan an appointment with your sleep physician.
  2. Mouth Opening - This difficulty can be solved by using a full facemask or using a chinstrap. Contact your home healthcare provider.
  3. Mask Leaks - generally caused by a poor fitting of the mask. Over time, the mask will begin to age and mask leakage is an indication that a new mask is needed.
  4. Nose Bleeds - Usually results from extreme dryness and should not persist more than two days. If persistent, contact your sleep physician.
  5. Nasal Dryness - BiPAP units blow air into your airway and dryness can occur. Heated humidification added to the unit can fix the problem. By increasing the heat on the humidifier, the humidity will be increased.
  6. Skin Irritation – An effect to a new mask or problems with pressure on your face from a mask Of BiPAP needs to be communicated to the equipment company first and if they cannot help, contact your sleep physician.

 

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