Difference Between APAP, BiPAP, and CPAP

Difference Between APAP, BiPAP and CPAP

When you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, your first therapy option is, typically, some form of positive airway pressure (PAP) medical device.
These all fall under the umbrella of what is known as noninvasive ventilation (NIV).

The device that you are prescribed depends upon what kind of sleep apnea you have—obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea (CSA), or a combination of the two—as well as how severe you are, and what other kinds of health conditions influence your sleep-breathing problems at night.

What is CPAP?
CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. It’s the most commonly used therapy to treat sleep apnea. It involves a motorized device which pressurizes air it draws from the room. Once pressurized, it delivers the air through tubing connected to a mask you wear on your face as you sleep.

What is BiPAP?
BiPAP stands for bilevel positive airway pressure. It is also sometimes* referred to as BPAP or bilevel PAP. Like APAP, its uses and appearance are similar to CPAP, but its settings are different.

What is ASV?
ASV stands for adaptive servo ventilation. It is the most sophisticated form of NIV and its use is reserved for specific kinds of patients.

Which therapy is best for me?
Your specific sleep breathing problems generally determine what form of NIV you will be prescribed:
For those with less severe or complicated problems with OSA, CPAP and APAP are common approaches
For those with more severe OSA, additional problems with CSA and other chronic health conditions, BiPAP and ASV may be the best choice