@ERSpublications ARF management requires an escalation therapeutic strategy based on application of a wide range of ventilatory and non-ventilatory interventions; there are many unanswered questions that need to be addressed in the near future http://ow.ly/xbPi30iUP2y Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is a devastating condition for patients that results from either impaired function of the respiratory muscle pump or from dysfunction of the lung. ARF is a challenging field for clinicians working both within and outside the intensive care unit (ICU) and respiratory high dependency care unit environment because this heterogeneous syndrome is associated with a high hospital morbidity and mortality rate, ethical issues in managing end of life decisions and increased consumption of healthcare resources.In acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (i.e. pump failure) an imbalance exists between the load imposed on the respiratory muscles and the capacity of the muscle pump [1]. This category mainly includes patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as patients with neuro-miopathies, chest wall deformities and obesity. The in-hospital mortality of patients hospitalised for COPD exacerbation is 2-8% (up to 15% for ICU patients), with a 1-year mortality of 22-43%. Readmissions after hospitalisation for an exacerbation are frequent events, ranging from 14% to 16% in the first month after discharge and 25-58% in the first year [2].Acute hypoxaemic failure covers miscellanea of causes of lung damage including acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, pneumonia and trauma. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a frequent cause of severe hypoxaemia. This clinical syndrome is characterised by acute inflammatory lung injury, associated with increased pulmonary vascular permeability, increased lung weight, and loss of aerated lung tissue [3]. In its most severe form (arterial oxygen tension/inspiratory oxygen fraction <100 mmHg), hospital mortality is ∼42% [3]. The insight in the pathophysiology of acute hypoxaemic failure has improved over the past decade. This has important consequences for treatment and monitoring of patients with ARF.The management of ARF may require an "escalation therapeutic strategy" based on the application of a wide range of ventilatory and non-ventilatory interventions (figure 1) [1, 4]. The rationale for applying these artificial supports is essentially to buy time for the aetiological therapy to reverse the cause of the acute decompensation of the respiratory system while avoiding/minimising the potential lung injuring effects of therapeutic interventions, such as ventilator-induced lung injury. In noninvasive ventilation (NIV) a dedicated interface is used, while with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) assistance is provided through an endotracheal tube or tracheostomy. New therapeutic options include high-flow nasal cannula [5], noninvasive and invasive cough assist strategies, high-frequency chest wall oscillation, and