Invasive ventilation is delivered through an endotracheal tube inserted into the patient¡¯s nose or mouth, or through a tracheostomy, a surgical incision in the neck to access the trachea.

Invasive ventilation delivers air on a timed cycle through the tube, and ensures that the patient takes a minimum number of breaths per minute. Ventilators can be adjusted to respond to the patient¡¯s own efforts to breathe or to override these efforts.

The decision to start invasive ventilation can often be a permanent one for patients who are unlikely to recover the ability to breathe on their own.

One drawback of invasive breathing assistance is that it interferes with the body¡¯s normal mechanisms for clearing the respiratory tract of mucus. In addition, most patients relying on invasive ventilation will need humidification because the nose and mouth, through which air is normally moisturized, is bypassed.