Positive airway pressure

Positive airway pressure (PAP) is a mode of respiratory ventilation used in the treatment of sleep apnea. PAP ventilation is also commonly used for those who are critically ill in hospital with respiratory failure, in newborn infants (neonates), and for the prevention and treatment of atelectasis in patients with difficulty taking deep breaths. In these patients, PAP ventilation can prevent the need for tracheal intubation, or allow earlier extubation. Sometimes patients with neuromuscular diseases use this variety of ventilation as well.

Variations include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP). BPAP has two pressure settings: the prescribed pressure for inhalation (ipap), and a lower pressure for exhalation (epap); the dual settings allow the patient to get more air in and out of their lungs.