ARDS and Mechanical Ventilation Practice Exam 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide for ARDS and Mechanical Ventilation

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is an effective non-invasive ventilation technique utilized in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) due to its ability to improve oxygenation and support lung mechanics. CPAP provides a constant level of pressure throughout the respiratory cycle, which helps prevent alveolar collapse during expiration. By maintaining a positive pressure in the airways, CPAP increases functional residual capacity (FRC), recruits collapsed or atelectatic lung units, and improves overall lung compliance, making it particularly beneficial for patients with ARDS.

The use of CPAP can help reduce the work of breathing and enhance gas exchange, providing support while avoiding the risks associated with invasive mechanical ventilation. While other non-invasive ventilation methods exist, the continuous nature of pressure provided by CPAP is particularly suitable for managing the hypoxemia often seen in ARDS without the requirement for more complex modes, which may be less tolerated or more difficult to manage in this population.