Abstract: With the development of mechanical ventilation,invasive ventilation is a life-saving strategy in critically ill patients and an indispensable tool in patients under general anesthesia for surgery,it also acts as a double-edged sword.Ventilation as a potentially dangerous intrusion that has the potential to harm lungs,in a condition known as ‘ventilator-induced lung injury'(VILI).In order to prevent the occurrence of VILI,so-called ‘lung-protective' ventilator settings were used to improve outcomes in patients with ARDS.Since the last few years,there has been increasing interest in possible benefit of lung-protective ventilation in patients under ventilation for reasons other than ARDS.Patients without ARDS could benefit from tidal volume reduction during mechanical ventilation.Low driving pressures during ventilation is recommended,however,it is uncertain whether higher levels of positive end-expiratory pressure could benefit these patients as well.

Key words: lung-protective ventilator, ventilator-induced lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome