Typical initial ventilator settings for bi-level pressure support in a patient with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure due to COPD
| Mode | Spontaneous/timed |
| EPAP | 4–5 cm H2O |
| IPAP | 12–15 cm H2O (to be increased as tolerated to 20 cm H2O) |
| Triggers | Maximum sensitivity |
| Back up rate | 15 breaths/min |
| Back up I:E ratio | 1:3 |