FISDAP Paramedic Airway and Breathing V2 Practice Exam

The primary goal of using a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device is to improve oxygenation and reduce the work of breathing. CPAP works by providing a continuous pressure that keeps the airways open, which enhances alveolar recruitment and prevents airway collapse during expiration. This helps increase the functional residual capacity (FRC) of the lungs, improving overall lung mechanics and oxygen exchange, particularly in patients with conditions such as pneumonia, heart failure, or obstructive sleep apnea.

When patients are experiencing difficulty breathing or are hypoxic, CPAP helps to augment oxygenation by maintaining positive pressure in the airways throughout the breathing cycle. This increases the amount of oxygen available for gas exchange in the alveoli and lowers the work of breathing by preventing airway resistance and allowing for easier inhalation.

While maintaining airway patency is important, it is not the primary function of CPAP. Instead, CPAP is primarily focused on enhancing oxygenation and making breathing less strenuous for the patient. Similarly, assisting in bag-valve-mask ventilation and providing mechanical ventilation serve different purposes and are not the main focus of CPAP therapy.