Vaccine Facts and Information — Read More
Find a Doctor
858.576.1700

Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Clinic

Document Icon

Appointments

About Our Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Clinic

The Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Clinic, directed by Rakesh Bhattacharjee, M.D., is specifically for children who use devices to support and treat sleep apnea and other types of sleep-disordered breathing.

Dr. Bhattacharjee gives Maria a high five.

PAP therapy may be recommended for children who have had a tonsillectomy but still have symptoms of snoring, pauses and difficulty breathing with sleep. It is indicated for sleep-breathing disorders that include obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea and nocturnal hypoventilation. Many children with disorders that affect the brain, breathing passages, lungs or muscles depend on PAP devices to support their breathing during sleep.

Children are asked to use the therapy nightly, and it can take some time to get used to the devices.

Our multidisciplinary team provides:

  • Education to families on how these devices work
  • Technical assistance and troubleshooting of PAP devices, masks or tubes
  • Medical advice on establishing the correct pressure of these devices
  • Psycho-social support as the child gets used to the PAP devices

Team

Rakesh Bhattacharjee, M.D., Director

Daniel Lesser, M.D.

Gretchen Dever, R.R.T.-SDS

Carrie Arii, R.N.

Contact Us

To make an appointment, please call 858-966-5999.

Office: 858-966-5846

Fax: 858-966-6491

Appointments

Requesting an Appointment

Most visits to the Center for Healthy Sleep are scheduled by referral. Please ask your child’s primary care provider or specialist to refer your child to the Rady Children’s Sleep Center.

  • Sleep Center clinic visits: For questions about new or existing referrals, contact the Main Pulmonary Office at 858-966-5846.
  • Sleep Lab (Overnight Sleep Studies): Once your child’s doctor has ordered a sleep study, please allow at least two weeks before calling the Sleep Lab at 858-966-4066 to schedule or reschedule.
  • Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Clinic: Appointments are by referral for children who use CPAP. For questions, please call 858-966-5999.
  • Complex Sleep Apnea Program: Appointments are by referral only and are typically coordinated by your child’s pulmonologist, ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist or craniofacial team. Please talk to your doctor about a referral.

For tips on getting ready for an overnight sleep study, visit Preparing for Your Child’s Sleep Study.