How To Do Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation

ByBradley Chappell, DO. MHA, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Reviewed/Revised Feb 2023
View Patient Education

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) is ventilatory assistance without an invasive artificial airway. It is delivered to a spontaneously breathing patient via a tight-fitting mask that covers the nose or both the nose and mouth. Because the airway is unprotected, aspiration is possible, so patients must have adequate alertness and airway-protective reflexes.

(See also Overview of Mechanical Ventilation.)

NPPV can be given as

  • Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

  • Bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP), which is triggered by the patient’s respirations

With CPAP, constant pressure is maintained throughout the respiratory cycle with no additional inspiratory support.

When using BPAP, the physician sets both the expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP, which is the physiologic equivalent of CPAP and positive end-expiratory pressure [PEEP]) and, additionally, the inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP).

Indications for Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation

NPPV is primarily used to delay and possibly prevent the need for endotracheal intubation and to facilitate extubation in spontaneously breathing patients. Indications include

  • Acute exacerbations of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), eg, with PaCO2 > 45 mm Hg or pH < 7.30

  • Cardiogenic pulmonary edema with impending respiratory failure

  • Obesity-hypoventilation syndrome

  • Immunocompromised patients with impending respiratory failure in whom intubation poses a higher risk of infection

  • Hypoxemic respiratory failure

  • Patients with do-not-intubate advance directives who would otherwise require intubation

The optimal patient is alert and cooperative and has minimal airway secretions.

In the outpatient setting,

Contraindications to Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation

Absolute contraindications

  • Cardiac or respiratory arrest, or impending arrest

  • Hemodynamic or dysrhythmic instability

  • Severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding

  • Facial deformity or trauma

  • Upper airway obstruction

  • Copious secretions or inability to clear secretions

  • Vomiting (which may result in life-threatening aspiration) or impaired gastric emptying (as occurs with ileus, bowel obstruction, or pregnancy), which increases risk of vomiting

  • Imminent indication for surgery or need to be in a setting inaccessible for close monitoring for prolonged procedures

  • Obtundation or inability to cooperate with instructions

Complications of Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation

Equipment for Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation

  • BPAP machine (or a full-featured ventilator)

  • Face mask or nasal mask

  • Head strap, to secure the mask against the patient’s face

  • Fitting wheel, used to determine the optimal mask size for the patient

Additional Considerations for Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation

  • IPAP must be set below esophageal opening pressure (20 cm water) to avoid gastric insufflation.

  • Indications for conversion to endotracheal intubation and conventional mechanical ventilation include the development of decreased alertness and transport to a surgical suite where control of the airway and full ventilatory support are desired.

Positioning for Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation

  • The patient may be seated upright or be semirecumbent.

Step-by-Step Description of Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation

  • Determine the appropriate face mask size by fitting the fitting wheel over the bridge of the patient’s nose, and rotating the wheel to select the size that covers the entire mouth.

  • Secure the forehead part of the head strap about the patient’s head. Do not fasten the strap too tightly; allow one or two finger widths under the strap and then tighten it.

  • Fasten the lower straps to the mask on each side.

  • Attach the top portion of the mask to the forehead strap. This top portion of the mask may have fine adjustments: in or out, up or down, to optimize patient comfort.

  • Connect the BPAP tubing to the patient, with the carbon dioxide release valve pointing away from the patient.

  • Typical initial BPAP pressure settings are: IPAP = 10 to 12 cm water and EPAP = 5 to 7 cm water.

  • Adjust the position of the mask as needed to maintain a good seal against the face. A small air leak, such as 5 L/minute,  is negligible.

  • Sequentially observe the patient, beginning 30 minutes after initiating BPAP, to assess ventilation and patient comfort, and increase IPAP to 15 to 20 cm water as needed.

Aftercare for Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation

  • It is important to monitor patients closely after beginning NPPV, to identify those whose condition does not improve (usually within 1 to 2 hours) and who therefore may need tracheal intubation. Serial blood gas measurements may help guide management.

Tips and Tricks for Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation

  • To facilitate patient comfort and acceptance of the mask, have patients hold the mask against their own face before securing the straps.

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