Abstract
Various ventilatory modes have been proposed and evaluated in clinical settings in parallel with advances in the engineering of ventilators and knowledge of the pathophysiology of respiratory failure. Synchrony between spontaneous and mechanical breathing, a reduction in the workload required for breathing, and comfort are the most important factors when mechanical ventilation is performed to assist spontaneous breathing. However, the ventilatory modes should also be evaluated with regard to lung protection to avoid ventilator-associated lung injury in patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure, such as those with acute respiratory distress syndrome. At present, no mode is regarded as superior to the others, partly because of insufficient clinical data. Clinicians should select a ventilatory mode after considering the advantages and disadvantages associated with each mode.
