Cpap

CPAP is the acronym for "continuous positive airway pressure", a therapeutic procedure used for sleep-related respiratory disorders (SAS).

Here, the patient's spontaneous breathing is actively supported by a permanent positive pressure. The organism continues to determine the depth and frequency of breathing and the air flow itself. Positive breathing is the method of choice for symptomatic OSAS patients.

The overpressure is produced by means of a nasal or full face mask. The positive pressure is adjusted so that the upper airways are kept open (pneumatic splinting), i.e. the obstruction is removed. The necessary pressure is determined for all sleep stages and positions for each patient individually in the sleep laboratory.

This form of positive pressure ventilation is used for obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS) and partly for central sleep apnea (central SAS). A prerequisite is that the patient has sufficient spontaneous respiratory drive.

Mask fit problems(pressure points, leaks); rhinitis, drying out of the nasal and throat mucosa; conjunctivitis;