[Mechanical Ventilation - Essentials of 4 German Guidelines]

In recent decades, respiratory medicine has become established as an integral part of intensive care medicine. In addition to continuous improvement of the technical possibilities, the availability of differentiated ventilation methods, sound pathophysiological and clinical knowledge are indispensable for realizing respiratory medicine at a high level of quality.Based on relevant experience, knowledge and research on the major topics of mechanical ventilation recently in Germany the following 4 guidelines have been published:S3 - guideline: Non-invasive mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory failureS2k - guideline: Non-Invasive and invasive home mechanical ventilation for treatment of chronic respiratory failureS2k - guideline: Prolonged WeaningS3 - guideline: Mechanical ventilation and use of extracorporal procedures in acute respiratory failureIn this article the main recommendations and take home messages of these guidelines are presented.