Positive airway pressure (PAP) is considered first-line therapy for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and may also be considered for mild obstructive sleep apnea, particularly if it is symptomatic or there are concomitant cardiovascular disorders. Continuous PAP is most commonly used. Other modes, such as bilevel airway pressure, autotitrating positive airway pressure, average volume a...

During mechanical ventilation in small animals a discrepancy between tidal volume applied through a piston ventilator and the measured volume displacement of the thorax occurs. Such differences, which can be as large as (10-30 %) depend on the mechanical properties of the lungs and thorax, as well as the volume and resistance of the tubing system. In this study we evaluate an adaptive controlle...

Respiratory failure is still an important complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hospitalisation with an acute episode being a poor prognostic marker. However, other comorbid conditions, especially cardiovascular disease, are equally powerful predictors of mortality. The physiological basis of acute respiratory failure in COPD is now clear. Significant ventilation/perf...