Bipap & NPO

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I hope I am posting this in the right section. I had a question about something that came up at clinical and I never got a real answer from the hospital's online policy guide or anyone that I asked: How long should someone be npo before wearing bipap? I know it can cause vomiting and aspiration if applied to soon after eating/drinking, how long do you wait? Thanks

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Specializes in NICU.

BiPap is used by many, many people at home. Many of them are eating in bed prior to sleeping with it. I have never had an issue with a patient vomiting while wearing CPAP/BiPAP in 14 yrs of doing sleep studies.

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

BiPap rarely causes gastric distention- The exhalation phase being lower pressure. The problem isn't "BiPap" but rather full face mask positive pressure breathing assist devices. I have had 2 patients vomit and develop aspiration pneumonia due to full face "CPAP". Eating or drinking should have no effect on nasal OSA BiPap or CPAP.

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