The aim of the present study was to verify that the patient/ventilator interaction is similar, regardless of the mode of assisted mechanical ventilation (i.e. pressure-or volume-limited) used, if tidal volume (VT) and peak inspiratory flow (PIF) are matched. Therefore, the authors compared the effects of three different modes of assisted ventilation on the work of breathing (WOB) and gas exchange in patients with acute respiratory failure.For Protocol 1, in seven patients, the authors compared pressure support, assist pressure control and assist control (with square and decelerating wave inspiratory flow pattern) set to deliver the same VT and PIF. For Protocol 2, in another 10 patients, the authors compared pressure support and assist control with high (0.8 L?s -1 ) and low (0.6 L?s -1 ) PIFs set to deliver the same VT.In Protocol 1, there was no difference in WOB and gas exchange between the three modes of assisted ventilation tested. In Protocol 2, the decrease of PIFs during assist control significantly increased WOB.In conclusion, different modes of assisted ventilation similarly reduce work of breathing and provide adequate gas exchange at fixed tidal volume and peak inspiratory flow only. During assist control, tidal volume and peak inspiratory flow (set by the physician) are the main determinants of the patient/ventilator interaction. A primary goal of mechanical ventilation is to improve gas exchange and reduce the work of breathing (WOB) of patients with acute respiratory failure, without causing iatrogenic lung injury [1]. Assisted ventilation allows the patient to contribute to minute ventilation (V9E) and offers several advantages over controlled ventilation. It can reduce the need for sedation and paralysis, decrease the risk of barotrauma [2], improve intrapulmonary gas distribution [3], and prevent muscle atrophy [4,5]. During assisted ventilation, the WOB is dependent on both the ventilator settings and the patient9s ventilatory demand and mechanics.Pressure support ventilation (PSV) is a pressurelimited, flow-cycled mode of assisted ventilation, in which each breath is supported by a constant level of pressure at the airway (Paw), so that the tidal volume (VT) and inspiratory flow are more adaptable to the patient9s own ventilatory demand [6]. This manner of supporting the patient9s own ventilatory effort may be responsible for an improved comfort and synchrony with the ventilator, and has been shown to reduce the WOB and prevent diaphragmatic fatigue in patients with respiratory failure [7]. The main disadvantage of PSV is that it only works best in patients with stable respiratory conditions (i.e. an adequate sufficient ventilatory drive and somewhat preserved respiratory mechanics [8,9]).Assist control ventilation (ACV) is a volume-limited mode of assisted ventilation, in which the VT and the peak inspiratory flow (PIF) are set by the clinician and are not altered by the patient9s ventilatory demand. If the required VT and inspiratory flow are higher than what the ventilator suppli...