Positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment involves placing a small mask or nose tubes (also known as "nasal pillows") over the nose or nose and mouth and blowing compressed air into the lungs. This is considered the gold standard of treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and it is useful to understand the testing, appliances, and challenges inherent to using PAP.
Types of PAP Devices
- CPAP : Continuous Positive Airway Pressure is the most commonly used PAP device. With CPAP, the level of pressure delivered to the airway is the same during both inhalation and exhalation.
- Bilevel PAP : With Bilevel PAP, the pressure during inhalation is higher than during exhalation. The pressures needed to control apnea and hypopnea events with Bilevel PAP are sometimes lower than with CPAP. Because some persons have difficulty tolerating high CPAP pressures, Bilevel PAP may be used when pressures required for CPAP are relatively high.
- AutoPAP : Auto-adjusting PAP devices automatically vary PAP pressures during the night to the lowest levels required to eliminate apneas and hypopneas. Some persons with OSA may find AutoPAP devices more comfortable to use, but they may be more expensive.
