This document discusses respiratory failure and various modes of mechanical ventilation. It begins by distinguishing between respiratory failure and respiratory insufficiency. It then covers initiating mechanical ventilation using either volume ventilation or pressure ventilation. Various modes are discussed including volume-targeted modes like control, assist, SIMV+PS. Pressure-targeted modes like pressure control ventilation and PSV are also covered. The document discusses the challenges of ventilating ARDS patients and how newer dual modes and closed-loop modes can help minimize ventilator-induced lung injury while maintaining lung recruitment and pressures. It also introduces APRV and bi-level ventilation as newer modes to apply PEEP above the lower inflection point.