bilevel positive airway pressure

noun

: a technique that is used for relieving breathing problems (such as those associated with sleep apnea or congestive heart failure) by pumping a flow of air through the nose to prevent the narrowing or collapse of air passages or to help the lungs expand and that differs from continuous positive airway pressure by pumping air at a reduced pressure during each exhalation

One alternative is a unit that provides what is known as bilevel positive airway pressure, or BIPAP. It delivers more pressure when you inhale and less when you exhale, and tends to be better tolerated than CPAP.

—Joseph Kaplan

—abbreviation BiPAP, BIPAP, BiPap, BPAP, BPap

Examples of bilevel positive airway pressure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The machines provide continuous positive airway pressure, known as CPAP, to keep the airways open with a steady stream of air through a mask or bilevel positive airway pressure, also known as BiPAP support, pumping air into the lungs using different pressures. —Jen Christensen, CNN, 7 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1989, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

bilevel positive airway pressure

noun

variants also bi-level positive airway pressure

: a technique for relieving breathing problems (as those associated with sleep apnea or congestive heart failure) by pumping a flow of air through the nose to prevent the narrowing or collapse of air passages or to help the lungs expand and that differs from continuous positive airway pressure by pumping air at a reduced pressure during each exhalation

One alternative is a unit that provides what is known as bilevel positive airway pressure, or BIPAP. It delivers more pressure when you inhale and less when you exhale, and tends to be better tolerated than CPAP.

—Joseph Kaplan

—abbreviation BiPAP, BIPAP, BiPap, BPAP, BPap