Which method is used to help ventilate a patient who is unable to breathe adequately?

BiPAP, or Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure, is used to assist patients who are unable to breathe adequately by providing ventilatory support. This non-invasive ventilation method delivers two levels of pressure: a higher pressure during inhalation (to assist with taking in air) and a lower pressure during exhalation (to facilitate breathing out). This can improve oxygenation and reduce the work of breathing, making it effective for patients with various respiratory conditions such as acute respiratory distress, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, or pulmonary edema.

In contrast, while an oxygen mask and nasal cannula provide supplemental oxygen, they do not assist with ventilation in cases where there is a fundamental difficulty in breathing or an inadequate respiratory effort. Oxygen masks deliver oxygen at a certain concentration, and nasal cannulas provide a lower amount of supplemental oxygen but do not exert pressure to assist in inhalation or exhalation. Physical therapy, while beneficial for mobilizing secretions and improving overall lung function, does not directly provide the ventilatory support that BiPAP offers. Thus, BiPAP is specifically designed to help ventilate patients experiencing respiratory failure or insufficient ventilation.