What is BiPAP?
|
|
BiPAP stands for Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure. It is a breathing apparatus that helps people get more air into their lungs. Created in the 1990s, it developed out of the C-PAP, which stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. In the 1980s, people used C-PAPs to help combat breathing difficulties such as sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a problem in which one's upper airway collapses, causing breathing to cease repeatedly. Apnea sufferers usually wake suddenly with a huge rousing snore. Their quality of sleep is poor and can lead to mental problems such as depression and lack of concentration. The physical health of the sufferer can also deteriorate.
The extra pressure from a C-PAP machine allowed users to sleep by keeping their airways open. The problem with a C-PAP, however, was that the person had to exhale against the extra pressure. This made it unsuitable for certain people, including those suffering from neuromuscular diseases.
With the development of BiPAP, air delivered through a mask can be set at one pressure for inhaling and another for exhaling. This makes BiPAP much easier for users to adapt to and also allows neuromuscular disease sufferers to use the device. Because of these dual settings, BiPAP allows people to get more air in and out of the lungs without the natural muscular effort needed to do so.
BiPAP has been found to be especially useful for patients with congestive heart failure and lung disorders, especially those that result in above normal levels of carbon dioxide. In addition, patients for whom intubation is not possible can benefit from the breathing assistence from BiPAP.
Sufferers of atelectasis will also benefit from a BiPAP. Atelectasis is when all or part of a lung collapses, and results in the loss of the ability of air sacs at the furthest reaches of the lungs to expand.
There are several tests a doctor can perform to find out if a BiPAP would be beneficial if you are a sufferer of atelectasis. One is a respiratory test, which involves breathing into a machine to measure your lung capacity. The Forced Vital Capacity test is another important test; it basically tests how deep a breath you can take. However, these tests will not show if you have sleep apnea, which is usually diagnosed with the help of sleep studies.
A BiPAP machine may cost between 2000 and 3000 US dollars (USD). The BiPAP should be covered by medical insurance. It is also possible to purchase your own machine. If that's not feasible, you also have the option to rent a BiPAP from a respiratory care company through an agreement with which you end up owning the machine. Your doctor or neurologist should be your first point of contact if you think you may benefit from a BiPAP.
|
Related wiseGEEK articles
Category
wiseGEEK features
Subscribe to wiseGEEK
|
27
Hi, I am a new patient and my respiratory therapist set my BiPAP at the doctor's prescription level 25/21 cm of water i.e (9.84/8.27 in water). When I tried it out I am literally feeling chest pain due to the high pressure setting at that level. I called my doctor and I asked them to change the setting because this was too much pressure for me. I am confused. - kadakia
25
BIPAP is used for many reasons. One reason would be for sleep apnea and for pulmonary diseases like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). For COPD patients it is hard to expel CO2 out of the lungs and for those patients BIPAP is great tool to remove the extra co2 retained. Remember, our bodies need balance. We breathe in O2 and we should exhale CO2 in balance. Sometimes, due to smoking or other pulmonary diseases, it throws our ventilation system out of wack. Remember Co2 is waste. It is left over from the metabolic processes in the body. 10/5 to 8/4 are the lowest BIPAP settings. Sometimes a person can use a nasal mask or a full face mask. Using a full face mask can dry your mouth if you sleep with your mouth open, which is ok, but try using a nasal mask or vice versa. Try the one that works best for you. With a nasal mask air escapes through the mouth, but remember some air is better than no air. Talk to you doctor about your concerns. - anon45468
23
I use a bi-pap machine with a humidifier and I still get a very dry mouth. Am I doing something wrong. What can I do to prevent this? - anon44997
22
How can I turn the CPAP down? The doctor refuses to. So I can't use it. Thanks - anon43558
21
Does a Respironics Cpap Auto Flex A do the same job as a Bi=pap machine - anon43489
20
Hi, I work at an answering service for some medical companies and we have a lot of older clients who call in to register their machines, but half of them do don't remember what they are called. Would you be able to tell me if a cpap or bipap go by other names? like a concentrator or compressor, etc.? - anon42485
19
There is no value at having the inspiratory level set the same as the expiratory level if you are trying to achieve Bipap. (Note: the air you feel is being measured as a pressure, not as liters).
Anyone suffering from dry mouth/nose should be using a humidifier with their machine. There are new machines on the market that can accommodate a need for increased pressure that automatically ramps up while you are sleeping. These machines also come with humidification. I suggest you contact your home health provider for more information on the newest equipment. - anon40429
18
The value of using a bipap is that it alternates pressure while the cpap maintains a constant pressure (or at least isn't as good as a bipap at alternating pressure). At least that is how I understand it. That said, I'm not exactly sure how it would help more if it is at the same pressure as the cpap. Hope that helps, though. - anon40134
17
I have been on a bipap machine for about 5 years, and I am still having trouble with dry mouth. It is *extremely* dry. I wake up during the night sometimes several times to get my mouth wet and I have been tempted many times to just give up the whole thing, but of course I can't do that. I can't sleep without it and I can't sleep well with it. I would appreciate any help you can give me! - anon40068
16
I am 70 years old. I had a procedure 5 years ago to stop atrial fibrillation. The a-fib was gone but I recently experienced 3 or 4 episodes of a-fib recurrence. I also have a pacemaker. Recently I was diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea and the doctor prescribed a cpap machine. I've been using my cpap for a week now and each time I wake up extremely tired and short of breath. I'm thinking of dropping the cpap and would like to know if there are alternatives. - anon38289
15
I have been on a Cpap machine for 6 months have turned off the humidifier and my face is still feeling damp in the morning. Any suggestions? - anon35774
14
my father is on a bpap machine and for some odd reason his lips are turning purple, is that an effect of that machine? - anon34181
12
My husband was in the Cleveland clinic last week with severe COPD and other lung problems & extreme difficulty in breathing. A venti-mask and a non-rebreather were both tried and he was struggling so hard to get a breath that they tried a BiPap. Unfortunately he had to be intubated and shortly after put on life support which was terminated 30 hrs later. This website was very helpful to me as I did not understand how a BiPap worked. Thank you - anon27949
11
philfrey says: Have used a CPAP for 3 years and I am very satisfied. I won't sleep without it, because if I do I may as well not be sleeping. Never used a bipap, but from what I understand it "sucks" as well as "blows". The CPAP helps with keeping pressure while inhaling, but does not assist with exhaling. I guess the Bipap does. Anyway, good luck and sweet dreams. - anon25473
9
arcompton~ just wanted to tell you that the difference in bi-pap and c-pap it that with a bi-pap you have no pressure to exhale against where as with c-pap the pressure is continuous thus the name. This change might allow you to breath easier. Bi-pap is especially helpful for people with COPD. Your Dr. must have some reason for changing this therapy. You should ask him/her to explain. - anon21078
8
hi. this saumya shah.i just wanted clarification on use of CPAP & BIPAP.My grandmother is facing sleep Apnea Syndrome and she is troubled by constant CO2 retention in her blood. So kindly guide us which equipment to use?? Which is Effective??? How is that going to help her??? I would be grateful if you all can guide me. Thank you. - saumyashah
7
If you are on a bi-pap you should have a heated humidifier.
- anon15639
6
I am currently under evaluation for a BiPAP. Is there any downside to the use of a BiPAP compared to a CPAP? - jgolden28
4
Hi, My daughter was born June 4, 2007 and she is still in the neonatal ICU until now and was diagnosed with a Congenital Central Hypo ventilation Syndrome. They tried using a CPAP but it did not work the doctor told me that they will try a BPAP but they will try to look for one. My questions are:Will a BPAP work in her condition? Was there any cases similar to my daughter that you know BPAP worked? How much will it cost to get one unit for my daughter and where? If it doesn't work what other devices can you recommend? Thank you and hope you can answer my questions and help me. Lawrence (Canada) - lorriesityar
3
I've been using a cpap for about 15 years. I recently under went another sleep study due to being lethargic, constantly tired, muddled mind, wear down quickly, etc.
During the sleep test I wore a full face mask (my cpap has a nose only mask) and wore a bipap machine. I didn't particularly care for the bipap and didn't sleep well.
Per the techncian I still maxed out the pressure on the test.
Based on the test and neuroligist evaluation of the sleep study my dr. is recommedning a bipap.
I'm a little confused. I have no real issues with my cpap (maxed out at 20 liters and has been for several years). If both machines were maxed out at 20 liters, what good would a bipap do over a cpap?
While wearing the bipap my mouth was extremely dry several times during the night, yet I continued to snore.
I'm willing to try the bipap but would like to unedrstand why it might be helpful, if it will. It just doesn't seem to be logical to me.
I understand the need for test results, analysis, etc. In simplest terms - If my cpap is pumping 20 liters of air (No problems sleeping, once I'm asleep) and a bipap is pumping air at 20 liters (drying out my mouth due to air pushing through it), is there any value in switching? - arcompton
|
Written by
Garry Crystal
Last Modified: 20 October 2009
copyright © 2003 - 2009
conjecture corporation
