We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Bilevel CPAP?

Karyn Maier
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 14,847
Share

Bilevel CPAP, also known as BiPAP, refers to a system of respiratory therapy that delivers oxygen to the airways by mechanical means to promote a normal pattern of breathing. In fact, CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. CPAP machines are primarily intended for patients with obstructive or central sleep apnea for use while sleeping and must be prescribed by a physician.

The physician also determines the correct amount of air pressure to be exerted by the machine based on an overnight observation of the patient in a sleep laboratory as well as the results of a polysomnography. This amount is termed titrated pressure, which is measured in centimeters of water and expressed as cm H2O. This is the amount of compressed air that will be pushed from the CPAP machine through a hose connected to the patient’s nose via a mask. Most sleep apnea patients respond to a titrated pressure ranging from 6 to 14 cm H2O. However, some CPAP machines, including a bilevel CPAP system, can exceed these levels up to 30 cm H2O.

There is another distinction between regular CPAP machines and bilevel CPAP systems. In the former, the patient is required to exhale against the same amount of titrated pressure used to force compressed air into the air passages. In other words, the rate of pressure remains the same with both events and the patient must often work a bit to exhale against it. With bilevel CPAP systems, however, there are two titrated pressure settings, one for inhalation and the other for exhalation, with the latter being an exact setting. This is an adaptation of CPAP machines with C-Flex, which are much like regular CPCP systems but have an additional feature that automatically reduces the pressure slightly as the patient begins to exhale.

As might be expected, bilevel CPAP systems are typically higher priced than ordinary CPAP machines. They also come with another set of terminology. For instance, the titrated pressure setting for inhalation is referred to as inspiratory positive airway pressure, or IPAP. Likewise, the pressure setting for exhalation is known as expiratory positive airway pressure, or EPAP. The difference between IPAP and EPAP is called the pressure support.

There have been recent advances made to bilevel CPAP machines. These enhanced systems feature an S/T mode, which stands for "spontaneous timed." Its purpose is to activate the machine to force inhalation in the event the patient stops breathing for a specified length of time during sleep. This ensures that the patient receives the required number of breaths per minute to carry sufficient oxygen to the blood. In some cases, this feature may even be life saving.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Karyn Maier
By Karyn Maier
Contributing articles to WiseGeek is just one of Karyn Maier's many professional pursuits. Based in New York's Catskill Mountain region, Karyn is also a magazine writer, columnist, and author of four books. She specializes in topics related to green living and botanical medicine, drawing from her extensive knowledge to create informative and engaging content for readers.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon246679 — On Feb 10, 2012

CPAP is provided by a blower which blows air into the upper airway to keep it open so that the patient can breathe room air, not oxygen, although it improves oxygen saturation in the blood. It does not use compressed air!

Karyn Maier
Karyn Maier
Contributing articles to WiseGeek is just one of Karyn Maier's many professional pursuits. Based in New York's Catskill...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-bilevel-cpap.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.