ABSTRACT
Positive Airway Pressure Therapy In general, positive airway pressure (PAP) is well tolerated with minimal side effects. Common complaints include dry mouth, claustrophobia, nasal congestion, skin irritation or abrasion, difficulty with exhalation, chest discomfort, aerophagia, claustrophobia, and conjunctivitis due to air leak. The majority of these problems can be resolved by careful evaluation and monitoring of patients on PAP therapy, and should be addressed promptly to avoid decrements in patient’s use and adherence to therapy. There are rare reports of serious complications such as pneumocephalus (subsequent to base of skull fracture), pulmonary barotraumas, tympanic membrane rupture, severe epistaxis, subcutaneous emphysema, increased intraocular pressure, and decreased cardiac output at high pressure that have been reported in association with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
