Positive airway pressure

Positive airway pressure
CPAP therapy: flow generator, hose, orinasal mask
Specialty	Pulmonary

Positive airway pressure (PAP) is a form of non-invasive respiratory support that delivers pressurized air through a facial or nasal interface to keep the airways open. It is used primarily to treat sleep-related breathing disorders, especially obstructive sleep apnea, and is also applied in hospital and emergency settings for conditions causing respiratory distress or ventilatory impairment. PAP therapy can reduce airway collapse during sleep, improve oxygenation, and lessen the work of breathing.

PAP systems use a device connected to a facial or nasal interface to generate positive-pressure airflow. The principal forms of PAP therapy are continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which maintains a constant pressure level; bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP or BPAP), which provides different pressures during inhalation and exhalation; and automatic positive airway pressure (APAP), which automatically adjusts pressure in response to breathing patterns. These therapies are used in both home and clinical settings.

PAP therapy became widely adopted after the introduction of CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea in 1981.

PAP therapy has been associated with improvements in sleep quality, daytime alertness, and quality of life, particularly among people with obstructive sleep apnea. However, its effectiveness often depends on long-term adherence, which may be limited by discomfort and difficulties tolerating the equipment or positive-pressure airflow.