Continuous positive airway pressure: modes of action in relation to clinical applications.

Some physical effects of CPAP are discussed, as are the various devices used for CPAP in infants. Some of the controversies about CPAP may be related to the unsuitability of certain techniques. Use in hyaline membrane disease, extrathoracic and intrathoracic airway obstruction, congestion of overperfusion of the lungs in diseases of the heart and great vessels, apnea repetens of immaturity, and phrenic nerve palsy is presented.