Abstract: The objective was to study the application of mechanical ventilation(MV)in the treatment of SARS.Methods:We applied mechanical ventilation to the patients who did not improve after oxygen inhalation by mouth or nose.Artificial ventilation was used through noninvasive ventilator or endotracheal tube/tracheostomy.Results:There were131severe patients in 220 SARS.Mechanical ventilation were applied in 32 cases,which amounted to14.55% of 220 SARS and 24.43% of severe patients.24cases(18.32% of severe patients)used only noninvasive ventilator,which amounted to75%of the total mechanical ventilation.6cases received tracheal intubation and3cases received tracheostomy(1case received tracheostomy after tracheal intubation).16cases died in mechanical ventilation,which amounted to7.27% of 20 SARS,and12.21% of severe patients,50% of mechanical ventilation.5cases died in 6 cases of tracheal intubation.3 cases of tracheostomy all died.99 cases of severe patients did not use mechanical ventilation,with3cases of them died and 96 cases of them recovered.Conclusion:Noninvasive ventilation is useful in treatment of SARS.Tracheostomy is of little value.Endotracheal intubation should be performed with general anesthesia.

Key words: SARS, mechanical ventilation