There are no official guidelines to assist in answering this question. I will search for relevant research papers instead.
From the Research
BiPAP Settings for COPD
The Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) settings for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are as follows:
- The study 1 used BiPAP in the spontaneous mode for at least 30 min every 3 h, with settings not explicitly stated.
- The study 2 used BiPAP with a higher pressure (Phigh) of 15 cmH2O and a lower pressure (Plow) of 5 cmH2O.
- The study 3 used BiPAP with a standard mask connected to a BiPAP ventilatory assist device, but the specific settings were not mentioned.
- The study 4 is a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis, and does not provide specific BiPAP settings.
- The study 5 used BiPAP to increase the volume available for tidal expansion, but the specific settings were not mentioned.
Key Findings
- The use of BiPAP in COPD patients has been shown to improve gas exchange abnormalities 1.
- BiPAP has been found to reduce the work of breathing in COPD patients, although the optimal settings are not clear 2.
- The use of BiPAP in a general respiratory ward has been shown to be effective in reducing the need for intubation and shortening the length of hospital stay in COPD patients 3.
- BiPAP has been found to improve exercise tolerance and reduce dyspnea in patients with comorbid heart failure and COPD 5.
BiPAP Settings Considerations
- The optimal BiPAP settings for COPD patients are not clearly established and may vary depending on the individual patient's needs 1, 2, 3.
- The use of BiPAP should be tailored to the individual patient's response to treatment, with adjustments made as needed to optimize gas exchange and reduce the work of breathing 1, 2.