02-27-2025, 04:17 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-27-2025, 04:18 AM by Kessy.)
Difference between BIPAP and CPAP?
I've read the explaination about the differences between BIPAP and CPAP (and watched videos); and they all say that the BIPAP can give a lower exhale pressure and higher inhale pressure; but I'm confused; because when trying to set the settings in the CPAP (I'm trying to use a Resmed AirSense 11, but it's not going well and some people told me I might need a BIPAP) and reading about how to set them it seems as if it is also able to make the exhale pressure lower than the inhale pressure? Could someone help me understand this better?
(After 2 weeks of hell with the CPAP making my sleep much worse and the AHI rise a lot my brain is really not working well.. at least I changed masks and it helped the leaks to stop; but the positonal apneas are still bad despite now using a soft collar making it impossible for me to tuck in my chin to my chest or my jaw to fall down. And I can't sleep on my side to the herniated discs in my neck and nerve damage)
RE: Difference between BIPAP and CPAP?
A CPAP provides a pressure range of 4-20. Some brands can go as low as 3, but that is not common. A true Bi-Level has a pressure range of 4-25. The more advance models have a 4-30 range. The documentation that you read refers to the ability of a Bi-Level machine to set a larger delta (span or range) between the IPAP and EPAP pressures. A CPAP can offer up to 3cm, in whole numbers, between the IPAP and EPAP. A true Bi-Level can go up to 8cm in .2 cm increments for its separation.
The above is a generic explanation. Each manufacturer can implement variations of this on their machine. I also used the term "Bi-Level" in the above because the term "BiPAP" is a registered trademark of Philips.
- Red
RE: Difference between BIPAP and CPAP?
Okay. Thank you for your reply. I understood a bit of what you said, but not all of it (need to google what some of the phrases mean; English is not may native language). Am so exhausted right now too, so my brain is not working. But it seems as if a "bi-leval" have greater "range" in pressure so that it can be lower for exhale and higher for inhale; more than a CPAP I mean. But there is some difference between pressure in inhale vs exhale in CPAP too?
RE: Difference between BIPAP and CPAP?
Your AirSense 11 has a feature called EPR, Expiratory Pressure Relief. It is called a Comfort feature. It allows you to set an exhale pressure 1,2,or 3 cm lower than your defined pressure which is actually your inhale pressure.
With your CPAP machine you can get a therapeutic difference of up to 3cmw. This results in the same therapy as a BiLevel with a PS, Pressure Support of 3cmw.
If your CPAP pressure is 10 and your EPR is 3, Fulltime this is the same as a bilevel with an exhale pressure of 7 and an inhale pressure of 10. That difference is a PS of 3
02-27-2025, 10:47 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-27-2025, 10:48 AM by Kessy.)
RE: Difference between BIPAP and CPAP?
Thank you, now I understand. Despite very tired brain..
then I'll see soon if this cpap is enough for me, or if I need to talk to my doctor about other options. Right now it's not working well at all. But will raise my pressure tonight, and hope it helps. I haven't been able to stop the flow limitations, even though they are a bit lower, despite using a soft collar and raising my bed. (And I can't sleep on my side due to my neck and nerve damage effecting the arms).
RE: Difference between BIPAP and CPAP?
I can almost guarantee the bulk of your apnea is positional.
That means, no setting change, not even getting a BiLevel machine will likely have a significant impact on your therapy.
Look for a Soft Cervical Collar that keeps your chin up and your chin doesn't slip underneath it. Tucking you chin into your chest is the most common cause.
RE: Difference between BIPAP and CPAP?
Please take Gideon's advice Kessy, that chart of yours is very busy. See
here, a soft cervical collar helped me eliminate all of my positional apnea clusters!
02-28-2025, 03:38 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-28-2025, 03:40 AM by Kessy.)
RE: Difference between BIPAP and CPAP?
Thank you. But as I wrote I do use a soft collar now, and my chin can't slip down when I wear it (asked someone to check on me) so I'm really not sure what more I can do and it all feel pretty hopeless now. If my nerve damage doesn't somehow heal so that I could start sleeping on my side I guess my situation will keep being bad. But then I could at least stop disturbing my sleep with the machine- which I'm doing now (even less sleep than before).
