Variable or BiLevel Positive Airway Pressure (VPAP or BiPAP) is a ventilator capable of delivering two different pressures depending on whether you are breathing in or out. These devices are most commonly used in respiratory failure, where more pressure during inhalation is require to fill up the lungs with air. They have also been used in cases were CPAP fails to treat obstructive sleep apnoea adequately or if you are intolerant to CPAP.

A BiPAP machine’s variable pressure has multiple purposes. The lower expiratory pressure, referred to as EPAP, is used to keep the upper airway open from any obstructions, and to also pre-inflate the lungs in preparation for breathing in. The higher inspiratory pressure, referred to as IPAP, is used to ensure you are getting a larger or normal breath in.

BiPAP machine pressures should be determined by doing an InLab sleep study where a technician will manually increase each pressure individually whilst closely monitoring your breathing and biometrics during the night.

BiPAP should be prescribed by a trained Sleep and Respiratory Physician and can be organised onsite or at a clinic of your choosing.

Commencing BiPAP usually starts with a trial period, this allows familiarisation with breathing on a BiPAP machine and also trying different masks finding the one that feels most comfortable.

There are also some government programs that can provide you a long term BiPAP machine at a fraction of the cost of purchasing, these programs also require a trial period to establish compliance on the machine.

Oxygen supplementation is used when despite getting enough airflow to the lungs, and filling the lungs, there is still low blood oxygen level. Delivery can come in two types, a compressed cylinder with a regulator valve or an oxygen concentrator which uses room air and converts it to almost pure oxygen.  Both methods are equally as effective and are suited for different scenarios.

Oxygen supplementation is administered through a nasal cannula positioned comfortably under the nose and looping around the ears. The dosage of oxygen must be determined by a Sleep and Respiratory Physician and can be set by one of our technicians. If you require both CPAP or BiPAP therapy as well the oxygen, it can be supplied though an enrichment port and should also be done by a trained technician to ensure it is correctly configured.

For some conditions medication is best suited, whether it be asthma, narcolepsy, COPD or many others. Our Sleep and Respiratory Physician will determine if this is the best line of treatment for you and prescribe accordingly.

Whether you are already on medication or your doctor has prescribed a treatment plan consisting of medication, such as an inhaler, SomaHealth Sleep & Respiratory will review your progress throughout. A FeNO test can also be organised onsite that actively measures airway inflammation and can help determine if any changes are required.