• CPAP (CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE)  therapy is the first line treatment sleep apnea. The CPAP device delivers pressurized air through tubing to a nasal mask or nasal pillow, which are fitted around the head. The pressurized air acts as an airway splint. It gently opens the patient's throat and breathing passages, allowing them to breathe normally while asleep, but only through their nose.
  

• CPAP TITRATION is required if sleep apnea is diagnosed or strongly suspected. Typically, this is a full night study performed during a second night, but is sometimes performed during the last few hours of split night study.
  

There are many types of CPAP units available, Here is a photo of three types. Also shown is a nasal application which is used to deliver the needed pressure to the patient

Titration is done for each patient--there is no "one size fits all" solution. During a titration study, the patient will sleep all wired up, just like a normal sleep study, but they will also wear a nasal mask which is connected to a CPAP machine. Since the pressurized air can be irritating to a nose that hasn't been used much at night, many sleep labs also connect the CPAP device to a heated humidifier during the titration procedure. This adds moisture to the air after it leaves the CPAP and before it enters the patient's nose, easing the drying effect of the pressurized air.
To ensure effectiveness and optimal comfort, the nasal mask is properly fitted prior to application. The patient drifts right to sleep! During the titration study, the technician will set the air pressure on the CPAP at a certain level and then watch the resulting measurements. If that pressure does not reduce the number or apnea and hypopnea events, or eliminate the snoring, the technician will adjust the air pressure and continue observation. This process continues throughout the night until the optimum pressure is reached.

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