(BPAP) Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure
Bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP) is a modified version of the continuous positive
airway pressure (CPAP). It is a mode of ventilation with cycling variations between two
continuous positive airway pressure levels. This mode offers two different levels of air
pressure: increased pressure during inhalation and decreased pressure during exhalation.
In adults this mode of ventilation is effective and is being accepted with a decrease in
need for sedatives because of the ability to breathe spontaneously during the entire
breathing cycle. BPAPs may work better for those individuals who cannot comfortably
breathe out against the fixed pressure of the standard device. Therefore BPAP is used for
patients with restrictive or obstructive disorders, and for patients with sleep apnea who
cannot tolerate the high pressure of CPAP.
