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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Time Traveler
The first known use of bilevel positive airway pressure was in 1989

Dictionary Entries Near bilevel positive airway pressure

bi-level

bilevel positive airway pressure

bilge

Cite this Entry

“Bilevel positive airway pressure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bilevel%20positive%20airway%20pressure. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!