[Modalities of mechanical ventilation]

Mechanical ventilation improves the symptoms and reduces complications of acute respiratory failure. Recent advances in microprocessor technology have increased the sophistication of mechanical ventilators, thus leading to new ventilation modalities. This article describes the ventilation modalities available, grouping them as conventional, alternative and new modalities. Conventional ventilation includes the most widely used modalities, alternative ventilation includes less frequently used modalities, and new ventilation modalities include recently introduced options that are available on the latest-generation mechanical ventilators.