CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE

Course overview

CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE (CPAP) IS A TYPE OF POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE THAT IS USED TO DELIVER A SET PRESSURE TO THE AIRWAYS THAT IS MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE RESPIRATORY CYCLE, DURING BOTH INSPIRATION AND EXPIRATION. THE APPLICATION OF CPAP MAINTAINS PEEP, CAN DECREASE ATELECTASIS, INCREASES THE SURFACE AREA OF THE ALVEOLUS, IMPROVES V/Q MATCHING, AND HENCE, IMPROVES OXYGENATION. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE MECHANISM OF ACTION, INDICATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, AND COMPLICATIONS OF CPAP THERAPY AND EXPLAINS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH HYPOXIA THAT CAN BENEFIT FROM CPAP THERAPY.