Continuous positive airway pressure would have delivered pressurised oxygen directly to the pilots through masks.

It has been proposed to add dead space to positive airway pressure for treatment of complex sleep-disordered breathing.

The main indications for positive airway pressure are congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The study also found that the snoring could be greatly eased when patients used an oxygen-mask-like device providing what is called continuous positive airway pressure.

Otherwise, "bi-level" positive airway pressure (see the next section) is commonly used to stabilize the patient, followed by conventional treatment.

An additional complication is that some or perhaps most alveoli can only be opened with higher airway pressures than are needed to keep them open.

A positive airway pressure should be maintained, and neonatal sepsis must be ruled out.

Level 2b: Mechanical ventilation for brief durations (less than 24 h) or continuous positive airway pressure.

For patients with moderate to severe problems the first line is a ventilation machine, to provide continuous positive airway pressure.

Common situations where positive airway pressure is indicated are those where taking a breath is difficult.