Bi-level ventilation is commonly used in patients with respiratory failure in the emergency department. This is a brief review of the indications for bi-level ventilation as well as a review of the complications of this popular ventilation/oxygenation method. Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) is mechanical ventilation that is provided via nasal prongs, a full or oral-nasal facemask, or mouthpiece. Different modes of mechanical ventilation are available, but the most commonly used methods are CPAP and BiPAP. The majority of evidence in NIPPV does not differentiate between CPAP and bi-level, or other modes of NIPPV, and the majority of outcomes and data are applied to NIPPV as a generalized intervention.

Read More