ABSTRACT

Sullivan et al. (1) first introduced continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) as a mode of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in 1981. A CPAP unit consists of a blower that generates positive pressure, which is then delivered via a hose through an appropriate interface to the patient. It acts as a pneumatic splint, and prevents the upper airway from collapsing cyclically during sleep in OSAS. It has become a standard of treatment for OSAS (2).