Mechanical ventilation is indicated for most patients with respiratory failure, including those with impaired ventilation, impaired air exchange or other causes of respiratory failure. Common diseases causing ventilation disorders include chronic emphysema, thoracic trauma, myasthenia gravis and Green-Barre syndrome; severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome are causes of ventilation dysfunction in patients; central nervous system respiratory dysfunction due to other causes is also an etiology. Mechanical ventilation is also indicated for special management of the patient’s airway, mainly in patients undergoing surgery, anesthesia or requiring sedation.