[Treatment of sleep-associated respiration disorders in clinical practice].

The actual therapy of choice for the common obstructive sleep-apnea syndrome is the application of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) via a nose-mask. This ventilation by positive pressure is explained in some detail. Mechanical ventilation for treatment of nocturnal respiratory failure in outpatients of various etiologies is covered in the companion paper by J. C. Chevrolet. Treatment of sleep disorders due to other pulmonary diseases such as bronchial asthma and others require treatment of the underlying disorder.