| Physiologic objectives |
| Support pulmonary gas exchange based on alveolar ventilation and arterial oxygenation |
| Reduce the metabolic cost of breathing by unloading the ventilatory muscles |
| Minimize ventilator-induced lung injury |
| Clinical objectives |
| Reverse hypoxemia |
| Reverse acute respiratory acidosis |
| Relieve respiratory distress |
| Prevent or reverse atelectasis |
| Reverse ventilatory muscle fatigue |
| Permit sedation and/or neuromuscular blockade |
| Decrease systemic or myocardial oxygen consumption |
| Stabilize the chest wall |
| Airway protection |
