An overview of nasal CPAP therapy in the management of obstructive sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea is readily reversible with nasally administered continuous positive airway pressure, although its effectiveness can be limited by poor patient compliance with therapy. With recent developments in technology, the ability to both diagnose and manage this disorder is dramatically improving. Assessment and therapeutic intervention can now be carried out not only in attended settings, such as sophisticated sleep laboratories, but in semiattended and unattended situations, including the home. What impact these advances will have on improving patient tolerance to therapy and reducing long-term clinical consequences of obstructive sleep apnea remains to be seen. However, there is no doubt that sleep-trained professionals now have many more tools at their disposal to diagnose and treat this disorder.
Piper
A J
AJ
Centre for Respiratory Failure and Sleep Disorders, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia. ajp@mail.med.usyd.edu.au
Stewart
D A
DA
D006801:Humans; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome