MRI sleep studies: Use of positive airway pressure support in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea

Maintaining the patency of the upper airway during MRI sleep studies, without an artificial airway placement in sedated or anesthetized patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a major challenge. We report two cases in which a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was used instead of artificial airway to allow interpretation of the dynamic component of the study.