A ventilation apparatus for treating sleep apnea is provided. A ventilator controlledby a control system may deliver ventilation gas through a ventilation gas deliverycircuit to a ventilation catheter and a distal tip on the ventilation catheter.One or more sensors may detect a breathing cycle and the control system may operatethe ventilator in synchrony with the breathing cycle. The distal tip may deliverthe ventilation gas superiorly from the transtracheal ventilation cathetertowards an upper airway, inferiorly from the transtracheal ventilation cathetertowards a lung, or a combination of both. The ventilation catheter may be a transtrachealcatheter, a trans-oral catheter or a trans-nasal catheter.