In the context of NPPV/BIPAP, how is PSV mode commonly referred to?

In the context of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) or BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure), the mode referred to as PSV, or pressure support ventilation, is commonly identified as IPAP, which stands for Inspiratory Positive Airway Pressure. This mode is designed to assist patients during the inspiratory phase of breathing by providing a set level of pressure during inhalation, making it easier to breathe without requiring the patient to generate the full effort themselves.

IPAP is crucial in managing patients with respiratory distress or failure by increasing tidal volumes and reducing the work of breathing. In contrast, EPAP, or Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure, supports the patient during the expiratory phase, maintaining airway patency and preventing alveolar collapse, but it does not assist during inspiration. CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, provides a constant pressure during both inhalation and exhalation, lacking the pressure support aspect of IPAP. APRV (Airway Pressure Release Ventilation) differs significantly as it is a form of mechanical ventilation that incorporates periods of high inspiratory pressure followed by spontaneous breaths at lower pressure.

Thus, in the context of NPPV/BiPAP, IPAP is the correct designation