This document discusses settings, modes, advantages and disadvantages of mechanical ventilation. It provides guidelines for initiation including using low tidal volumes for ARDS and avoiding high pressures. Troubleshooting tips are given for high pressures, COPD patients, poor synchrony, and ARDS. Settings covered include trigger, tidal volume, rates, PEEP, flows, and FiO2. Modes described are assist-control, pressure support, and SIMV.