Students – Paramedic Practice Exam

CPAP and BiPAP are two forms of noninvasive positive airway pressure support. The defining feature of CPAP is a constant, single pressure maintained throughout the entire breathing cycle, which helps keep airways open and reduces the work of breathing without actively driving ventilation. That single-level pressure best describes CPAP. BiPAP, on the other hand, uses two pressure levels: a higher pressure during inhalation to aid ventilation and a lower pressure during exhalation to make exhale easier. This two-pressure setup supports both oxygenation and ventilation when needed, such as in certain respiratory failures or COPD exacerbations. So, the statement that CPAP delivers continuous positive air pressure at a single level is the best description. The other options misstate BiPAP’s two-pressure nature, or imply no pressure during exhalation, which isn’t correct since an expiratory pressure is still maintained.