Respiratory Support Masterclass: From Nasal Cannula to AVAPS Respiratory support exists on a spectrum—from conventional oxygen therapy to advanced noninvasive ventilation. Understanding how and when to escalate support is a foundational skill in emergency medicine, critical care medicine, respiratory therapy, and hospital medicine. Selecting the appropriate respiratory support modality can improve oxygenation, reduce work of breathing, support ventilation, and help clinicians manage patients with acute respiratory failure. In this masterclass, we review the full continuum of respiratory support, beginning with conventional oxygen delivery devices and progressing to advanced noninvasive ventilation. We discuss the physiology, indications, settings, advantages, limitations, and clinical applications of nasal cannula, simple face mask, Venturi mask, non-rebreather mask, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), BPAP, and AVAPS. We also explore practical strategies for escalating respiratory support in both hypoxemic and hypercapnic respiratory failure. Topics Covered: • Oxygenation versus ventilation • Fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂) • Conventional oxygen therapy • Nasal cannula • Simple face mask • Venturi mask • Non-rebreather mask • Escalation of respiratory support • High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) • HFNC physiology and settings • BPAP fundamentals • IPAP and EPAP • AVAPS fundamentals • Target tidal volume selection • Hypoxemic respiratory failure • Hypercapnic respiratory failure • Noninvasive ventilation • Respiratory support strategies • Device comparison • Clinical pearls and pitfalls 📺 Watch the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8qFxEzYYW8 📚 Download the full study guide + access our complete emergency critical care curriculum: https://www.patreon.com/c/WhiteBoardMedicine Our Patreon includes: • 📄 Study guides for every video • 📋 One Pagers • 🎓 Mini-courses (ventilation, shock, RRT & more) • ❓ Practice questions • 🚫 Ad-free videos • 🧠 A structured ICU curriculum 🌐 WhiteBoard Medicine Website: https://whiteboardmedicine.com Disclaimer: This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Clinical decisions should always be based on individual patient circumstances, local protocols, and consultation with appropriate healthcare professionals.

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