How Does Niv Work in Copd

NIV is used in nearly one third of COPD patients considered to have a poor life expectancy (71). Its use in this setting has a weak evidence base but used judiciously can contribute to symptom relief without adding to the care burden. NIV can relieve breathlessness by unloading the respiratory muscles.

Why is NIV used for COPD?

The role of NIV in COPD is to decrease work of breathing and improve respiratory mechanics through effects on several pathophysiologic abnormalities present in severe COPD (Table 1).

How does BiPAP work in COPD?

BiPAP machines provide two different levels of air pressure, which makes breathing out easier than it is with a CPAP machine. For this reason, BiPAP is preferred for people with COPD. It lessens the work it takes to breathe, which is important in people with COPD who expend a lot of energy breathing.