Mechanical ventilation is a common intervention provided in paediatric intensive care units. The management of mechanical ventilation in paediatrics is guided by a limited number of paediatric trials along with the application of adult data. Mechanical ventilation with pressure limitation and low tidal volume has become customary in paediatric intensive care. High frequency oscillatory ventilation is considered a suitable method to ‘open the lung’ and certainly is a lung-protective approach. Further research of noninvasive ventilation, prone positioning, the surfactant and weaning support to assist the paediatric intensivists in the application of these therapies is warranted.

        Key words: children – mechanical ventilation